Marie Arthur

Mattie Marie was born November 26, 1916 at Anson, Texas to Iva A. Lemon and William Houston Womack. She grew up on a farm, picked cotton and did other manual labor during the Great Depression. She rode to school in a one-horse buggy.

Mattie Marie met her first husband, Hoyt B. Willingham, while attending Tahoka High School. They were wed in Lubbock on January 16, 1936. Like many people during the Great Depression, they had no money for a wedding ring, so they didn’t purchase one until 10 years later, when Hoyt returned from military service after World War II.

Although Mattie Marie tried to follow Hoyt everywhere he was stationed during the war, she had two small children, Fred and Joyce, to care for. So when Hoyt went overseas she lived with family in Bakersfield, California. During the war Hoyt wrote Mattie Marie a letter every day during his entire four years of military service. Meanwhile, she worked for Sears, Roebuck until Hoyt returned and recovered from combat-related injuries. The couple settled in Brownfield, Texas, where Hoyt started an aerial crop dusting business. He was killed September 20, 1949 in a dusting accident at Mensa, Arkansas.

Mattie Marie supported her four children by working briefly at Furr’s and Piggly Wiggly Supermarkets in Brownfield, then as a postal clerk from 1951 to 1964. She married Fred Arthur on November 4, 1964, while he was working as meat director of United Supermarkets. They moved to Lubbock in 1965 and became members of Monterey Church of Christ for the rest of their lives. Fred died November 14, 1998.

Mattie Marie and Fred enjoyed dancing, traveling and taking fishing trips together. She was active in the Lubbock Women’s Club, the Metropolitan Bridge Club and the Newcomers Bridge Club. She enjoyed socializing and hosting family gatherings. She and Fred attended Texas Tech football games for many years, and late in life she attended Lady Raider basketball games for as long as she was able.

Survivors include three sons: Fred and wife Phyllis of Mora, New Mexico; Ralph of Lubbock; Phil and wife Olga of Lubbock; a daughter, Joyce Ancell and husband Tom of Garland; a stepson, Fred Arthur Jr. and wife Mary of Lubbock; seven grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Lee Pruit, Michael Willingham, Keith Tatum, Brandon Begemann, Heath Begemann and Toby Buchanan.

The family suggests memorials be directed to Hospice of Lubbock, 3702 21st St.