De Wanda Lee Pomonis

De Wanda was born to Elwood and Lu Emma Carey on May 23, 1933 in Elk City, Oklahoma. She was adopted by Dan Harmon as a child and carried his name until meeting and marrying an incredibly kind Greek man, Spero S. Pomonis, on January 24, 1952. They raised their family and several bulldogs in La Porte.

Being born in the Depression and the hard years that followed her father’s departure defined her life as she and her mother struggled for food, clothing, and shelter. In her early years, they lived with her grandfather, George Washington Perkey on his farm in Oklahoma, where she helped her mother pick cotton. Eventually they moved to Galveston, Texas, where they lived until De Wanda was 18 years old. While in eighth grade, Lu Emma fell and hurt her back, so De Wanda quit school to cover her mother’s shifts waiting tables to help make the family money. In addition to being a good waitress, she also was growing into a beautiful young lady. She was soon hired at the local casinos to be a shill to attract gamblers to the tables and sell cigarettes. She quickly discovered that if she smoked while selling them, she would sell more and thus started a 60-year habit.

At 18, she and her only girlfriend took the bus to Houston and began working as waitresses in, what is now, the Medical Center area. She worked at the Shamrock Hotel and her friend worked at the Ship Ahoy, for a Greek man, who was the chef and part-owner. This man had a son, Spero, who liked to talk to her and she initially ignored until her friend moved out and stole all her clothes and money. Spero helped her find an apartment, bought her clothes, and repaired her teeth following a bike accident.

After they married, she and Spero quickly had four children and moved to their bay home in 1964. Her mother lived with them until her death, helping to care for the house and children. De Wanda worked selling cosmetics and jewelry most of her life.

There are many wonderful family memories of catching crabs and fish, having large family meals, playing canasta, and of course, shopping. She remained grateful for all that she had, the accomplishments of her children, and the care she was provided through her final days.

She was preceded in death by her mother Lu Emma, her husband of 58 years, Spero, and her precious daughter, Rachel Pomonis Windham.

She is survived by three children: Dr. Deborah Blackwell and her husband, Mike Blackwell, Dr. Nick Pomonis, and Wanda Sue Pomonis; ten grandchildren: Jennifer Windham, Dr. Jason Pomonis, Whitney Sprott, Courtney Fontenot, Michelle Brown, Nicki Messina, Dr. Charles Blackwell, Benjamin Blackwell, George Whaley IV, and Justin Whaley; and several great-grandchildren.