1925
Alma
2008
Alma Ruth Lightsey
February 17, 1925 — November 20, 2008
Alma Ruth Hood Lightsey
Harlingen, TX:
Alma Lightsey passed peacefully from this life Thursday, November 20, 2008 surrounded by her loving family at home. Born February 17, 1925 in Stafford, TX, she was the second of three daughters of Britta and Roy Renan Hood, who soon moved the family to the Rio Grande Valley. She spent many summers in Austin visiting her aunt and uncle, Cora and Sebe Byrne and joined the First Christian Church of Weslaco as a child.
Following graduation in 1943 from Weslaco High School, she began working in Jacksonville, Texas for the Department of Agriculture where she met and fell in love with Horace Hardy Lightsey. They returned to the Valley and married in Donna, Texas on December 19, 1945.
Alma & Hardy worked in Brownsville, La Feria and Harlingen before moving to Tempe, AZ in 1970. Upon retirement in 1983, they returned to Harlingen where Alma served 4 years as a HOST Volunteer at Wilson Elementary School. Her lifelong hobbies included sewing, cooking and in her later years, traveling and shopping in her abundant mail order catalogues.
Alma will be remembered for her witty spirit, wry sense of humor, determination and strength of character. She never forgot anyone’s birthday and adorned the cards and envelopes with numerous stickers. Her daughters and grandchildren will remember her Maxine© personality, that crabby character from Hallmark©, who enjoys getting a laugh out of someone or hates the thought of getting older or another birthday. Alma could make someone chuckle in a stressful situation and believed putting a smile on someone’s face was what it was all about!
Alma was married 57 years to Hardy Lightsey, who died in December 2002. She is survived by their two daughters: Elizabeth Ann and her husband Ed Nestor of Huntsville, and Darlene Topp and her husband, John Topp of Harlingen. Her grandchildren who knew and loved her as “Granny”: Matthew Nestor (Conroe), Andrew Nestor (Dallas), Jennifer Topp (Harlingen), Summer Kaylor and her husband Rob (Austin) and Richard Topp (Austin); and her great-grandchildren, Jonathon and Autumn Kaylor of Austin. She is also survived by her sister: Juanita MacPherson (Harlingen) and her two sisters-in-law, with whom she felt particularly close, Frances Cook (Orange), and Ann Bowling Choate (Lufkin), as well as numerous nieces and nephews who shared many stories, laughter and fun times together.
The family expresses deep, heartfelt appreciation to her dear friend and caretaker, who so lovingly assisted Alma in living independently; Esther dela Garza; Elvia Moran, Norma Gonzalez, Dr. Todd Shenkenberg and his nurse, Sharon Wohler, R.N. and his staff; Dr. Mitchell Hughston, Dr. Ann McCrackin, Dr. Leslie Penn and Dr. Ernie Williams for their wonderful care, as well as all those who provided hospice services with Odyssey Health Care; and a special thanks to Jan Lebleu and Zula De La Cerda.
A celebration of Alma’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 23, 2008 at First United Methodist Church of Harlingen with Rev. Eradio Valverde, officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at Ebenezer Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas on November 29, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 321 E. Harrison, Harlingen, Texas 78550 or Harlingen Area Rotary Endowment Fund, Inc., 312 E. Van Buren Ave., Harlingen, TX 78550 or any charity of your choice.
You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are entrusted with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Harlingen, TX:
Alma Lightsey passed peacefully from this life Thursday, November 20, 2008 surrounded by her loving family at home. Born February 17, 1925 in Stafford, TX, she was the second of three daughters of Britta and Roy Renan Hood, who soon moved the family to the Rio Grande Valley. She spent many summers in Austin visiting her aunt and uncle, Cora and Sebe Byrne and joined the First Christian Church of Weslaco as a child.
Following graduation in 1943 from Weslaco High School, she began working in Jacksonville, Texas for the Department of Agriculture where she met and fell in love with Horace Hardy Lightsey. They returned to the Valley and married in Donna, Texas on December 19, 1945.
Alma & Hardy worked in Brownsville, La Feria and Harlingen before moving to Tempe, AZ in 1970. Upon retirement in 1983, they returned to Harlingen where Alma served 4 years as a HOST Volunteer at Wilson Elementary School. Her lifelong hobbies included sewing, cooking and in her later years, traveling and shopping in her abundant mail order catalogues.
Alma will be remembered for her witty spirit, wry sense of humor, determination and strength of character. She never forgot anyone’s birthday and adorned the cards and envelopes with numerous stickers. Her daughters and grandchildren will remember her Maxine© personality, that crabby character from Hallmark©, who enjoys getting a laugh out of someone or hates the thought of getting older or another birthday. Alma could make someone chuckle in a stressful situation and believed putting a smile on someone’s face was what it was all about!
Alma was married 57 years to Hardy Lightsey, who died in December 2002. She is survived by their two daughters: Elizabeth Ann and her husband Ed Nestor of Huntsville, and Darlene Topp and her husband, John Topp of Harlingen. Her grandchildren who knew and loved her as “Granny”: Matthew Nestor (Conroe), Andrew Nestor (Dallas), Jennifer Topp (Harlingen), Summer Kaylor and her husband Rob (Austin) and Richard Topp (Austin); and her great-grandchildren, Jonathon and Autumn Kaylor of Austin. She is also survived by her sister: Juanita MacPherson (Harlingen) and her two sisters-in-law, with whom she felt particularly close, Frances Cook (Orange), and Ann Bowling Choate (Lufkin), as well as numerous nieces and nephews who shared many stories, laughter and fun times together.
The family expresses deep, heartfelt appreciation to her dear friend and caretaker, who so lovingly assisted Alma in living independently; Esther dela Garza; Elvia Moran, Norma Gonzalez, Dr. Todd Shenkenberg and his nurse, Sharon Wohler, R.N. and his staff; Dr. Mitchell Hughston, Dr. Ann McCrackin, Dr. Leslie Penn and Dr. Ernie Williams for their wonderful care, as well as all those who provided hospice services with Odyssey Health Care; and a special thanks to Jan Lebleu and Zula De La Cerda.
A celebration of Alma’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 23, 2008 at First United Methodist Church of Harlingen with Rev. Eradio Valverde, officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at Ebenezer Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas on November 29, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 321 E. Harrison, Harlingen, Texas 78550 or Harlingen Area Rotary Endowment Fund, Inc., 312 E. Van Buren Ave., Harlingen, TX 78550 or any charity of your choice.
You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are entrusted with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alma Ruth Lightsey, please visit our flower store.