Iris Pace Jennings

Iris was born on a cold, snowy Saturday, January 31st, 1931. She was born at home on the Pace Farm north of Littlefield, Texas to: Pearl and Sid Pace. She was the sixth child and the fourth daughter in their growing family. Mother said Iris was premature and tiny and "blue". The doctor came out from town and the brothers and sisters were sent to the barn during the delivery. Mother and Daddy thought she was just beautiful and they named her Iris, a beautiful name for a beautiful baby girl. They had a coal-oil stove in the kitchen and Daddy made a small fire in the oven; they lined a large pan with thick blankets and placed baby Iris in this home-made "incubator". They set the pan on the open door of the oven and Daddy sat with her all night, keeping careful watch over the fire and baby Iris, turning the pan often so that the heat would be evenly distributed throughout. Mother got back in bed but she didn't sleep; she said she prayed many prayers that night for they were very fearful for this, too tiny, baby girl. Daddy watched over her all night and our Father watched over all of them that night and when morning came this tiny little girl named Iris, was hungry! Mother said, Daddy and Iris "bonded" that night and from then on they had a special relationship. Even though Iris never did grow to be very big, she was destined for big things: She received many honors during her school years and graduated from Littlefield High School, 1948, third in her class. She went to U.T. Austin, Pharmacy School and graduated in the top 10% of her class, 1952. While at U.T. she was President of Kappa Epsilon Honor Society, the honors organization for Pharmacy majors and she continued in her profession as a Pharmacist until she was into her 70th decade. Iris loved people and she cared about helping the sick get better. Mother said Iris loved the Lord and was baptized at an early age. She continued in her commitment to the Lord and the study of His Word until He took her home with Him. I do not remember ever hearing Iris speak in a negative or unkind way about anyone! She was an encourager and a prayer warrior! She loved her prayer groups and she was faithful and diligent in prayer for others. Iris and her prayer warriors made a difference, not only in my life, but enumerable others have been blessed by their prayers, as well!

Iris went home with the Lord on Sunday morning, June 17, 2012; she is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ansel and John Pace; and a sister, Ruth Pace Zachary. She is survived by her children: Michele and David Waldo and their sons, Seth of Corinth, Texas and Joshua of Abilene. She was so proud of her children and grandsons! Visits with us, whether by phone or in person, always included pictures, discussion and praise for her children and grandsons and their activities. Seth and Josh were truly the "light of her life" and we enjoyed hearing of their achievements and activities almost as much as she enjoyed telling us about them. Iris was very good with words and was a good communicator but most of all, she was a good listener; she really "heard" what you were saying!

She is also survived by five sisters: Becky Hall of Lubbock, Texas, Joann Bell of Midland, Texas, Lehman Jones of Littlefield, Texas, Sherry and Bill Johnson of Houston, Texas, and Judy and Dale Ward of Levelland, Texas. She is survived by one brother: Ron Pace of Littlefield, Texas. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who love her and remember the many, many things she did for them and most of all, they remember that she always had time to listen to them! As our children left home and went off to college, many of them came here to Abilene and while they were here she became their surrogate mother. Iris never told what all she did for them and sometimes it was "later" before we learned of the things she had done. She took care of our "kids" as she would have if they had been her own. There was no way we could every catch-up or repay all that she did for our children! She had enumerable friends; she knew how to be a friend, the phrase, "to know her was to love her", is especially appropriate for Iris Pace Jennings; not only was she our sister, she was our friend!

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at Highland Church of Christ, with David Mickey officiating. Entombment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Mausoleum, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. The family will receive friends at a visitation 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.