UPSHUR COUNTY - SUNSET MEMORIAL PARK

Tommye Wilella Moore Parham
Born: November 26, 1923
Died: December 19, 2015

Funeral service for Tommye Wilella Moore Parham will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 21, 2015 at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gladewater with her son, Robert Parham officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park in Gilmer. 

Tommye Wilella Moore Parham began her earthly life on Monday, November 26, 1923 at home in Wilson, Texas. Her glorious transformation from this life was achieved on December 19, 2015 at the age of 92. 

In this life, Wilella served many roles and was known by many names. First, she was daughter to Thomas Franklin Moore and Ella Deason Moore. She was sister to 11 brothers and six sisters, the ninth-born child. Wilella is survived by two brothers, Clarence Moore and wife, Wilma, Kerrville TX; and Harold Moore Sunray, TX and one sister, Mary Savage Lubbock, TX. She was student, friend, and basketball teammate at Wilson High School where she graduated. Many there called her “Willie.” She was a Christian attending church at New Home Church of Christ. 

It was there that Wilella met and fell in love with Preston Parham. She took on the role of wife when she married Preston on May 2, 1944 in San Antonio where he began his service in the US Army. We don’t know if “whither thou goest, I will go” was in that ceremony or not, but it was a vow Wilella certainly made. She took trains and buses to be with Preston in Georgia, Wyoming, and finally Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She lived in boarding houses, apartments and base housing, sometimes alone and sometimes with Preston as the army would allow. She worked in a cranberry factory and an insurance office so she could remain with him until he shipped out to Germany to join General Patton’s 3rd Army. His service to his country was a great source of pride to Wilella and she often told how he worked on and guarded Patton’s personal car. Preston preceded her in death in June, 1995. 

After his discharge from the army, Preston and Wilella returned to Lubbock and she took on a new role, mother. She is survived by three children: Robert Parham and wife Gail, Gladewater, TX; Don Parham, Baker, LA; and Cindy Howes and husband, Dr. Tim Howes, Longview, TX. Depending on time and circumstance, she was either “Mother” or “Mom.” In time, she became “Gam” to six grandchildren: Shannon Parham Garland, Fulshear, TX; Trent Parham, Midland, TX; Layne Parham, Bartlesville, OK; Casey Parham, Dewey OK; Carrie Ross Daniels, Bartlesville, OK; and Samantha Howes, Longview, TX. She also leaves 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

Preston first worked as a mechanic and carpenter in those early years after the war, and Wilella tells of spending many evening hours watching as he worked on cars or as he built their new home. In 1956, Preston began his preaching career, and Wilella took on more roles: preacher’s wife, Bible class teacher, church secretary, hostess, hospital visitor, and many more. For 40 years and in 10 different churches of Christ in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, Wilella faithfully fulfilled her responsibilities as a minister’s wife with a spirit of grateful service. In 1994, Wilella and Preston returned to Gilmer, where he had ministered for 10 years, to retire and be closer to Cindy, Tim and Samantha. 

As happens, life brings on other not so pleasant roles: widow and resident. To the staff and friends at Legend Oaks Care and Rehabilitation Center, where she resided for about six years, she was “Miss Tommye.” And until very recently she enjoyed her life there knowing all about her neighbors, taking care of her roommate, Gladys, reading, and cheering on the Rangers and Mavs. Thank you to those faithful caregivers there. 

Wilella, Willie, Mom, Gam, and Tommye, you have given us a great example to follow. You have shown us love. And we know you will be waiting for us on the other side. We love you. 

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service time at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gladewater.