Daisy Ruth Folks

Daisy went by many names… wife, mom, aunt, Nana, Rebekah sister, church sister, friend, all of these roles have a foundation of genuine love for others. She is the most kindhearted, generous, and joyful woman any one of us could have known.

She is survived by her son, Leon Folks and his wife Kathy, daughter Vicki Box and her husband Lloyd and daughter Kathy Anderson and her husband Russ. She has nine grandchildren, Brian Folks and his wife Lara, Christopher Folks and his wife Joy, Jason Folks and his wife Samantha, Amy Box and her boyfriend Johnny Cantrell, Joshua Box and his wife Stephanie, Zachary Box and his wife Kristy, Casey Ward and his wife Myra, Russell Anderson Jr. and his wife Heather and Jonathan Anderson and his wife Sarah. She has sixteen great grandchildren, Corbin Martin, Emma Folks, Dalan Box, Olivia Ward, Neveah Anderson, Cohen Box, Aiden Folks, Samuel Ward, McCartney Folks, Jennie Anderson, Ella Anderson, Alexa Anderson, Journey Folks, Nolan Anderson, Jackson Folks, Conner Folks and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Folks, of 47 years, her parents, John Lambert Shepherd and Nancy Margaret Shepherd, brothers William, Oscar, Charlie, Earl, Jack and RJ, and sisters Maggie, Aulcie, and Margie.

Her family was part of the founding families of Balch Springs. The position of their property lead to a street being named after their family, Shepherd Lane.

Daisy graduated from Mesquite High School in May 1945.

It seemed that Daisy was destined to marry Henry. She told the story many times that she was walking with her sister Margie one day in her late teens when she saw Henry and declared to Margie that she was going to marry that guy. She was right, they were married on April 21, 1946.

Her professional career was spent as a beautician. She started her practice at a small shop in Dallas at Mockingbird and Abrams. After several years building her clientele, she opened her own shop where, like Steel Magnolias, her clients were more like friends than customers. That shop is still operating today.

She spent most of her life in service of others, her church and the Rebekah Lodge were key channels for her to provide service to God and her community. She loved her church. From the early years at First Missionary Baptist Church of Zipp City to Landmark Family Fellowship, she reveled in the fellowship of her church family.

She was a fixture in the church kitchen making sure the kids at AWANAs had plenty of snacks and drinks. During Vacation Bible School, she worked many hours to make decorations to support the many creative themes used to teach young people about the faith she held so dear.

She became a Rebekah around the age of 40. She was a founding member of Balch Springs Rebekah Lodge #78. It’s hard to imagine there could be a more devoted member of the Rebekah Lodge. It never mattered what the event or need was, Daisy put everything she had into it. Here are just a few highlights:

• Creating box lunches for the Seniors and Youth for Odd Fellow and Rebekah day at the State Fair of Texas

• The formal installation of officers, long dresses, long gloves and BIG hair

• The State meetings…making dresses, making decorations and traveling to the hot spots of Texas

• Chaperoning Junior Odd Fellows and Theta Rho trips…that was a big responsibility to watch over teenage boys and girls that in some cases were away from home for the first time

• Building and manning floats for local parades, proudly representing the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs

• Weekly Bingo night in the low tech time of paper cards and dobbers…she devoted many hours to keeping players supplied with their chance to win the jackpot

• Supporting every event with her homemade specialties. There were many times she scolded “Don’t touch that, it’s for lodge!!”

• And finally, her world record number of deviled eggs and peanut butter cookies provided for Sunday lunch!

Throughout her lifetime, she blessed countless people with word and deed. If many of the people she touched aspire to be even slightly like her, the world will be a more gracious and beautiful place. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to:

Landmark Family Fellowship Building Fund

Landmark Family Fellowship

2523 Clay Mathis Rd

Mesquite, TX 75181

972-836-9670