Doris Dean McCurdy, age 85, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2018 with her family at her side. She was born on January 6, 1933 to Dick and Velma Gresham in Portales, New Mexico. Growing up in the depression and being the oldest of eight children, she grew up quickly and became self sufficient. She learned that if she wanted something in life, she had to work for it. Having Christ as the foundation in her life, she was determined to make a better future for herself. On August 28, 1948 she married Mac McCurdy, the love of her life, at the age of fifteen and relocated to San Francisco, California where he was stationed in the Navy. After he was discharged in 1949 they moved back to Portales. In 1950 they moved to Amarillo, Texas seeking better employment. She became a waitress for the Silver Grille while her husband pursued a career in plumbing. In July of 1950 she gave birth to her first son and left her employment to become a full time homemaker. To help out with the family income she learned to sew and it wasn't long before she became an expert seamstress. She made as much of the family clothing as she could. Her sewing skills were later recognized by a local saddlery company and she was contracted to make horse halters. The family furniture was often a piece that had been discarded by someone else that she would disassemble, rebuild and reupholster to look like new. With all the chores she had she never let her work get in the way of taking care of her husband ,and raising her three sons. She even found time to raise chickens, grow a garden and caned the harvest to feed her family. In 1969 her husband opened his own plumbing company and she took on the task of keeping the books. Feeling that she was lacking in her education, she went back to school and earned her GED. She continued to keep the books until they retired and turned the business over to their sons in 1987. Having time on her hands she volunteered to teach the first grade class at the baptist church she attended and remained there for twelve years. She never gave up her love for sewing and spent her retirement years sewing for daughter in- laws and granddaughters, making everything from dresses to prom gowns. To continue her legacy, she taught many of her granddaughters her skills. She also continued to garden and raise chickens up until her health kept her from getting out into her yard. She was surely an example of the psalms 31 virtuous woman. She will be greatly missed by her family that she selflessly served and loved for seventy years of her life.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, one sister, Billie Jean Meredith and one brother, Clark Gresham.
She is survived by her husband Mac McCurdy, three sons, Bobby McCurdy and Wife Debbie of Amarillo, Dickie McCurdy and Wife Pat of Amarillo, Mickey McCurdy and Wife Teresa of Amarillo. Five brothers and sisters, Jim Gresham and wife Rosemary of Amarillo, Rodney Gresham and wife Janice of Marshall, Texas, Charlene Bouldin of Artesia, New Mexico, Janet Carter and husband Mickey of Amarillo, and Darlene LiveOak of Kingman, Arizona. Eight grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren. One plumbing company, MMM Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
