Duma W. Rutherford

Duma Wells Rutherford passed away on July 1, 2024. She was 95 years old. Duma was born in Pickton, Texas on December 20, 1928. When she was a child of 5 years old the family moved to Houston, Texas where she lived for the remainder of her life. Houston was where she met Thomas Page Rutherford, to whom she would be married for 63 years until his death in 2012. Together they raised five children in a home full of love, laughter, faith, and support.

Duma had a beautiful singing voice. Being faithful in attending church services, she sang in the church choir and was often featured as a soloist during church services and cantatas. For many years she sang in a trio at Berean Baptist church that featured herself, her sister Zuella Herndon, and friend Joelle Murphree. She also enjoyed the opera and just relaxing to beautiful music.

Duma had several hobbies. She liked to sew and made many of the children’s clothes as they were growing up. She also enjoyed painting scenic and still life pictures. Many of these beautiful and colorful paintings grace the homes of family members walls. She and Tom also enjoyed traveling. They went on many cruises and excursions around the world in their many years together.

To help support the family, Duma worked some time at the Baker Bots Law firm, worked several years at the department store, Joske’s, and worked for many years, and eventually retired from the Foley’s Department Store.

Duma had a quick wit and a sense of humor that we who loved her will miss terribly.

Duma is survived by son, Barry Rutherford and wife Debbie; daughter, Laurie Rutherford; daughter, Carol and husband Clint Patterson; daughter, Sheryl Jackson; son, Brian Rutherford and wife Nellie; grandchildren, Eric and Ryan Rutherford; Kayla, Brandon and Tyler Patterson; and great grandchild, Ian Rutherford; nephew, Wesley Heefner and his wife Diann and their children Zachary and Allison.

She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Fagan Wells; mother, Clovis Wells; sisters, Zuella Herndon, and Fern Heefner; and brother, Kenneth Wells.

A memorial service will be conducted at Brookside Funeral Home on Friday, July 5, 2024 beginning at 1:00PM.