Libby C. Whitmire

The Angels sang Libby into heaven on the 5th of December, 2016, completing 102 years on this earth. She was born to Jesse Frederick Cleveland and Dorothy Adams Cleveland in San Angelo, Texas on September 25th, 1914 as the third of four children. The family moved to Ranger, Texas when Libby was five years old. Her parents have predeceased her as well as her brother, William H. Cleveland, sisters Cordelia C. Masters and Dorothy Jesse C. Huddle. Her first husband, Patrick Joseph McMurrough, Jr. and her eldest son, Patrick Joseph McMurrough III also predeceased her. She leaves to mourn her passing, Charles Stephen McMurrough (Anne), Terence McMurrough, Mary Katherine McMurrough (David), seven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren in addition to many nieces and nephews. Her Great Grandfather was Charles Lander Cleveland, a traveling circuit Judge. He donated the land for the town site of Cleveland, Texas and so the town was named after him. The DAR is completing work on a museum in Liberty, Texas in the home he built for his family. It is called the Cleveland/Partlow house. Libby was an artistic child who studied the violin and began oil painting at the age of nine, continuing to produce lovely paintings for many years. She was on the pep squad at Ranger High School in Ranger, Texas and was the class prophet her senior year, graduating at age seventeen. Her Mother, an excellent seamstress, said "Libby was my best dressed child." Her fashion sense and blending of colors were remarkable. She maintained a slender figure all of her life to go with her attractive face. Some described her as "striking." Libby was a woman of many talents. She did exhibition dancing for Arthur Murray Studios specializing in the tango. She could play the piano by ear. After she had her four children, she returned to nursing school at Jefferson Davis Hospital to complete her R.N. Degree. She graduated from the University of Houston in 1958. She worked for HISD as a school nurse testing children's hearing for 26 years. After her first husband, Patrick J. McMurrough, passed away she remarried to Victor E. Whitmire until he died 8 years later. Libby loved attending and giving parties. Her cvhildren always had birthday parties with their school mates and relatives. Some involved a campfire in the backyard with lit Chinese lanterns strung above, or a pony to ride, or even swim parties. Once there was a miniature golf party. Guests generally went home with some party favor such as a bandanna or a miniature bottle of perfume for the girls. She enjoyed traveling and was very active in the Kiwanis Club, traveling to many different states and Canada as a representative of her club. She even went to Nice, France for an international Kiwanis Club convention. She was proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Lady Washington Chapter and had her framed certificate hanging above her bed where she convalesced at Elmcroft of Braeswood assisted living center. Libby enjoyed traveling to Europe, Hawaii, China, Colorado, Florida, California, New York and the Kentucky Derby most every year. Her Mother was raised in Kentucky and she had a special fondness for it. She still has cousins there.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Advantage Funeral Home, 7010 Chetwood Dr. Houston, Texas 77081. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, December 9, 2016 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9900 Stella Link Rd. Houston, Texas 77025. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at 2:00 pm in Flatonia, Texas. Arrangements under the direction of Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services, Houston, TX.