Elizabeth James

Elizabeth McMurry James

Elizabeth McMurry James was born February 22, 1914 in Ector, TX to Finis Ewing McMurry and Virginia Houston McMurry. She died November 2, 2008 in Canyon, TX.

Elizabeth grew up in Texas and New Mexico and graduated from Daniel Baker College in Brownwood, TX. She married Richard Melvin James on August 1, 1938 in Santa Fe, NM. She and Melvin taught school in Weed, NM for a few years before moving to Portales, NM. Most of her many years of teaching were at L.L. Brown Elementary in Portales. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Portales for more than 40 years, and later a member of Kingswood United Methodist in Clovis, NM for almost 20 years. She was active WSCS and United Methodist Women at both churches. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the hospital auxiliary Pink Ladies, and was a Meals on Wheels volunteer for many years.

Her family was always the most important thing in her life. She has blessed, and has been blessed in return, by her family and many friends. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her daughter Jeanie Eichenberger of Canyon, TX; sons Richard James and wife Michael of Levelland, TX and Bobby James and wife Judy of Hope, AR; grandsons Jamey Eichenberger and wife Laura of Canyon, TX, Jeff James and wife Rachel of Haslet, TX, Tim James and wife Jessica of Graham, TX and Robbie James and wife Cynthia of Henderson, CO; granddaughters Kris Hollis and husband Kendall of Los Alamos, NM and Staci Shupe and husband Chris of Texarkana, TX; 13 great grandchildren; brothers Kenny McMurry of Alamogordo, NM and Don McMurry of Los Alamos, NM; sisters Virginia Weaver of Alamogordo, NM, Martha Nolan of Wimberley, TX, Margaret Swanson of T or C, NM and Kathryn Kicklighter of Baxter, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Melvin; her sisters Mildred Barnett, Doris Weaver and Mary Blazer; her brothers George McMurry, Houston McMurry, and Willie McMurry; and her son-in-law Mac Eichenberger.

The family greatly appreciates the wonderful care provided by BSA Hospice and Canyon Healthcare.

Services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Clovis, NM. The Reverend Gerald White will officiate. Burial will follow Portales Cemetery, Portales, NM. Pallbearers will be Elizabeth's grandchildren.

Memorial Contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, Portales, NM; Kingswood United Methodist Church, Clovis, NM; Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, Amarillo, TX or Canyon Healthcare, Canyon, TX.

Arrangements are under the direction of Steed-Todd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana, Clovis, NM 88101, www.steedtodd.com, 575-763-5541.
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