Melba
Melba Joy Thomason Mimms
Melba Joy Thomason Mimms, 85, of Amarillo, died Friday, January 13, 2023.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2023, At the Colonies Church of Christ, 4500 Wesley Road’ with Bret McCasland officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 P.M. in Resthaven Memorial Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas.
Melba Joy Thomason Mimms was the daughter of Hershell L. Thomason and Vera Mae Knowles Thomason. She was born on November 6, 1937, in the OM community near Hollis, Oklahoma. She was the third child out of four. Shortly
after she was born, they moved to Pettit, Texas where she attended Pettit Grade School. When she was 15 years old the family moved again to Acuff, Texas where she attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1956. She was an active student during her school years and was an officer in the home economics group and an elected class favorite during High School.
She married Donald Lee Mimms on April 6, 1957, at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The couple eloped due to Don’s military restrictions and the only witnesses to their sacred ceremony were Bobbie and Jere Mimms, Don’s brother, and sister-in-law. They kept their marriage a secret and did not tell the rest of the family till months later they were married. Soon thereafter Joy and Don returned to Pettit to farm and raise their own family. In 1962 they welcomed home their daughter, Cassondra Ann Mimms, on January 6th.
Joy was a devoted wife, mother, and community member. She was actively involved at the family’s church in Levelland, TX at Cactus Drive Church of Christ, worked as a part-time secretary at the Pettit Coop Gin, a volunteer for the Hockley County Junior Livestock show and organization, and oversaw the election and voting for her precinct for many years. She was a steadfast presence for Don assisting as much as could and helping him keep up the farm. They enjoyed traveling with friends and family as well on many memorable trips across the country. She cherished all the time she spent with her three grandchildren and family. The couple moved to Levelland during Don’s retirement from the farm in 2007. Later they moved again to Amarillo, TX to be closer to Sondra and Lynn Tate and their children.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Mimms, and her parents, Hershell and Vera Thomason.
Survivors include, Sondra Tate and husband Lynn of Amarillo; her three grandchildren Vanda Glover and Greg, Karah Kellam and Jay, and Travis Tate and fiancé Lindsay Stroope; five great-grandchildren, Gentry Glover, Crawford Kellam, Gemma Glover, Bellamy Kellam, and Jack James Kellam; her siblings, Elvoy Thomason, Juanima Fikes, and Anna Thomason along with her in-laws, Jere Mimms and Tookie, Jack Mimms and Pat, and Caroline Macon and many adored cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family suggests that memorials be made in remembrance of her to your favorite charity.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2023, At the Colonies Church of Christ, 4500 Wesley Road’ with Bret McCasland officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 P.M. in Resthaven Memorial Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas.
Melba Joy Thomason Mimms was the daughter of Hershell L. Thomason and Vera Mae Knowles Thomason. She was born on November 6, 1937, in the OM community near Hollis, Oklahoma. She was the third child out of four. Shortly
after she was born, they moved to Pettit, Texas where she attended Pettit Grade School. When she was 15 years old the family moved again to Acuff, Texas where she attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1956. She was an active student during her school years and was an officer in the home economics group and an elected class favorite during High School.
She married Donald Lee Mimms on April 6, 1957, at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The couple eloped due to Don’s military restrictions and the only witnesses to their sacred ceremony were Bobbie and Jere Mimms, Don’s brother, and sister-in-law. They kept their marriage a secret and did not tell the rest of the family till months later they were married. Soon thereafter Joy and Don returned to Pettit to farm and raise their own family. In 1962 they welcomed home their daughter, Cassondra Ann Mimms, on January 6th.
Joy was a devoted wife, mother, and community member. She was actively involved at the family’s church in Levelland, TX at Cactus Drive Church of Christ, worked as a part-time secretary at the Pettit Coop Gin, a volunteer for the Hockley County Junior Livestock show and organization, and oversaw the election and voting for her precinct for many years. She was a steadfast presence for Don assisting as much as could and helping him keep up the farm. They enjoyed traveling with friends and family as well on many memorable trips across the country. She cherished all the time she spent with her three grandchildren and family. The couple moved to Levelland during Don’s retirement from the farm in 2007. Later they moved again to Amarillo, TX to be closer to Sondra and Lynn Tate and their children.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Mimms, and her parents, Hershell and Vera Thomason.
Survivors include, Sondra Tate and husband Lynn of Amarillo; her three grandchildren Vanda Glover and Greg, Karah Kellam and Jay, and Travis Tate and fiancé Lindsay Stroope; five great-grandchildren, Gentry Glover, Crawford Kellam, Gemma Glover, Bellamy Kellam, and Jack James Kellam; her siblings, Elvoy Thomason, Juanima Fikes, and Anna Thomason along with her in-laws, Jere Mimms and Tookie, Jack Mimms and Pat, and Caroline Macon and many adored cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family suggests that memorials be made in remembrance of her to your favorite charity.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Melba Joy Thomason Mimms, please visit our flower store.
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