Myrna Saunders Qualls

True to how she conducted and lived her life, Mother (Phyllis)/Mom (John and Richard) wrote her obituary several years ago.

In her own words: Myrna Loy Saunders Qualls was born in Loraine, Mitchell County, Texas on December 29, 1928 to John Omer Saunders and Bessie Alma Porter Saunders. Grew up in Roscoe, Nolan County, Texas where I was valedictorian of my senior class in 1946. During my high school years, I was pianist for the choral department, which performed seasonal musicals. Also served on the annual committee.

Since World War II ended just as my class entered high school, we put out the first annual allowed after paper shortages forced cancellation of such activities during the war years. Was a member of the Roscoe girls’ volleyball team who won District in 1946 after defeating the Merkel girls’ team. I was the first person in my extended family privileged to attend college. Attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas 1946-1948 and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Secretarial Science degree from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas in 1950.

Married Billie Qualls on September 8, 1951, in Roscoe, Texas, becoming a member of a large family who embraced me and our three children when Bill died in an automobile accident on July 3, 1960. I enjoyed many years of close relationships with my mother-in-law and seven of Bill’s siblings and their spouses. I am the last survivor of the children and spouses of Walter and Ida Qualls. Bill, a World War II Army veteran, worked as a construction millwright and we moved 19 times during the first four years of our marriage. We settled in Roswell, New Mexico in June of 1955.

In 2007, I moved to Midland, Texas. Worked after college graduation doing secretarial/bookkeeping duties for the Social Security Administration in Ft. Worth, Texas; The Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway Company in Roscoe, Texas; Attorney Bill Street in Littlefield, Texas; Architect Ted French in Roswell, New Mexico; Rancher Hap Canning in Roswell; Atlantic-Richfield Oil Company in Roswell; and retired after 27 years as New Mexico Division Secretary for Southwestern Public Service Company in Roswell. I enjoyed serving as pianist at Roscoe, Texas Baptist Church while in high school. Served as organist at Calvary Baptist Church in Roswell from 1958 to early 1967. Was a member of Roswell’s First Baptist Church and was a member of the first handbell choir formed by Bob Singleton and Mamie Lewis in 1967.

Enjoyed singing in sanctuary choirs throughout high school and young adulthood. Am currently a member of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. I’m very proud of my children who are good citizens who care about each other and are always willing to give of their time and resources to make others’ lives better. We’ve shared many happy holidays and vacations with each other and our extended families.

My children are Phyllis Elaine Qualls of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Richard Carr Qualls and his wife Jamie Leigh of Kingston Oklahoma. My grandsons are Patrick Cole Qualls and his wife, Jessica, Matthew Porter Qualls, all of Midland, Texas and Richard Parry Qualls and his wife, Bailey, of Johnson City, Tennessee. My great-granddaughters are Alec O’Brien Qualls, Madison Avery Qualls, Amelia Kay Qualls, and Lindsey Abbigail Myers. My great-grandsons are Paxton Corban Qualls and Wyatt Turner Qualls. I have numerous Saunders, Porter and Qualls nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceded in death by husband, Bill, son John Walter Qualls, parents J.O. and Bess Saunders, sister Vanice Marlene Saunders and grandparents L.N. and Lillie Saunders and Jim and Madie Porter.

Funeral service to be held at 11:00 AM (CST) at Alamo Heights Baptist Church, 1409 N. Midland, Midland, Texas, officiated by Pastor Robert Murphy. Graveside service and burial will be held at 10:00 AM (MST) at South Park Cemetery, 3101 South Main, Roswell, New Mexico. Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel of Roswell, New Mexico and Sunset Memorial Funeral Home of Odessa.

To send condolences to the family, please sign her guestbook at www.sunsetodessa.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Assurance Home, 1000 East 18th Street, Roswell NM 88201 or to Christmas in Action, PO Box 3744, Midland TX 79702.