Peggy Faye Green

On a nice spring day under an old oak tree near the train track in Depew, Oklahoma, Leslie Powell “Ted” Melton and Ora Eunice Reed gave birth to twin girls, Peggy Faye and Pasty Maye. Their father was the funniest man in Depew, Oklahoma and Peggy inherited his sense of humor and wit. When she was 7 years old the family moved into town. Peggy was a handful growing up. She could be found smiling and smoking a corncob pipe in the outhouse. She was very outgoing, loved social activities and singing and dancing to music which made her the life of the party. At ten years old Peggy had a spiritual experience that changed her life forever. While playing in the school yard she heard a trumpet blow. She would remark later in life that she thought it was the Angel Gabriel. She looked up in the sky and saw a beautiful woman dressed in blue holding a basket. The basket held a beautiful glowing baby that she knew without a doubt was the infant Jesus. This impressionable event would mark the start of her spiritual journey in life.

When she was fifteen years old, while standing in her front yard beside her gate she saw this handsome young man drive by. He honked his horn, smiled and waved as he headed to the local cafe. She made a point to go meet that guy with the cool car. They meet up at the diner and started a fast romance. Arthur W. Green, known to everyone as “Cotton," named after his flowing cotton hair, was a good looking, smooth-talking Texas boy with eyes as blue as the deep blue sea. Cotton thought Peggy was so beautiful and knew he was going to marry her one day. Though as it would turn out, after a few months he had to leave town for work and head back to east Texas. Though he promised to write Peggy while he was away. Time passed and Peggy was not the kind of girl to be sad and depressed. On a Saturday night she was on a date with a local boy at the diner. Cotton walked in the door and approached Peggy. She was shocked but pleasantly surprised to see him after about a year. He walked up to the table where Peggy sat with the other young man and said, “Hey Peg, ready to get out of this place?” She immediately got up, not saying a word to her date and took off with Cotton. It was only 6 weeks later that they eloped to Fort Smith, Arkansas and were married on April 17, 1950.

The newlyweds lived a few years in Oklahoma where they had their first two children, Michael David Green, born on September 25, 1953 and Twilla Suzan Green, born December 7, 1954. Later they moved to Jacksonville, Texas where they had two more children, William Ted Green, born on November 8, 1957 and Timothy Gerald Green, born May 24, 1960. They lived in Jacksonville on and off from 1957 to 1961. They would travel a great deal between 1955-1962 due to Cotton’s work. Peggy grew tired of moving the kids so much and told Cotton that it was time to settle down. In 1963 they did just that, settling in Houston, Texas. Peggy raised their kids and was a model housewife, dancing to music on the radio while holding a broom, singing her lungs out, and smoking one Winston after another. She started smoking at a very young age and always expressed how much she loved smoking!

She had a love for sports, kept her boys involved in baseball and was a diehard Astro's fan her entire life. While at her son Timmy’s baseball game she was so enraged by the umpire's bad call. She screamed expressing her distaste and the ump turned to the stands and said “if you can do better, come on lady!” She politely got up from her seat and went out in the field and did just that! She was a fiery redhead with a quick wit and temper to match, but also the sweetest woman you’d ever meet. In the winter time, she would invite the whole bus stop of kids inside the house to get out of the cold, even while her kids were trying to get dressed.

Later in life, after the kids grew up she began working at the neighborhood local corner store where they lived and was the life of the place. All the customers brought her and Mrs. Lou Ramsey the local gossip. Lou and Peggy were neighbors and great friends for over 30 years. Peggy worked for several years at the store before retiring and moving back to Oklahoma to be close to her family.

Cotton and Peggy lived on the old historic US Route 66 highway outside of Depew, Oklahoma for almost 13 years. They had a good life and made many cherished memories with their family and friends during those years. The grandkids would spend many summers at baseball camp, fishing, making trips to the PDQ and riding 4-wheelers. Just like in Houston, the house was always full with family and friends. Friday night card games, dominos, with her brother L.P. Melton Jr., his wife Joanne, twin sister Patsy, her husband A.J. Cantrell as well as whomever decided to pop-in… whenever they wanted. During their retirement Peggy and Cotton loved gardening, traveling visiting the Hoover Dam and trips to Vegas. They enjoyed their peaceful country life til tragedy struck the family.

In October of 2003 the family was devastated by the brutal murder of Patsy and A.J. Cantrell in the Melton’s childhood home. Loosing her twin sister changed Peggy’s world. Though her faith in God never failed her and she always knew God was with her. In 2004, Cotton's health was depleting and Peggy’s wish was to move back to Houston to be closer to her children and grandchildren to help care for Cotton. Peggy and Cotton moved back to Houston after the family purchased a house in Spring, Texas for them. Cotton was very reluctant about the move, but settled in before developing Alzheimer's that ultimately led to his passing on November 6, 2011.

Peggy and Cotton were married for 61 years. Peggy was a loving and devoted wife to Cotton and was always quick to tell everyone that he was “the love of her life.” On the night of Cotton’s burial, Peggy was frightened because it was the first time she’d ever been alone. Her daughter Twilla came to live with her shortly thereafter and would take care of her until the day she died.

Peggy spent countless hours playing Pac-Man, Mario Brothers and games with her grandchildren. Peggy loved to gamble. After moving back to Houston, Tim and her grandchildren loved taking her to the game rooms. On her 86th birthday she won $860.00! She loved and read every book written by Louis L'Amour. She loved the excitement of winning and getting her scratch off tickets from her son Ted every week.

When not watching the Astros and Rockets she loved to watch game shows and westerns.

Peggy survived the initial diagnosis of lung cancer over 10 years ago, but during the COVID pandemic, she was hospitalized after a fall. At that time, it was discovered that the lung cancer had returned and she soon began therapy. She fought COVID, the isolation of her hospital stay, returned home and continued to prevail despite complications with her gall bladder and liver that caused additional health problems.

She slipped away into the dark of the night early the morning of July 19th joining her beloved Cotton. We have no doubt that she is rejoicing in the name of our Lord and Savior, singing and dancing in Heaven. She will be greatly missed, loved and cherished forever in our hearts.

Peggy Faye Green is survived by her children Michael and Janice Green, Twilla Green, William “Ted” and Cathy Green and Timothy and Dovie Green.

Her grandchildren Kris and Stacy Green, Brandy Green and William Rodriguez, Billy Ted and Rebeka Green, Nikolas and Crystal Green, Krystal Moore, Ashli and Buddy Badders, Cyla and Pancho Henriquez and Tiffany and Alex Long.

And her great-grandchildren Anthony Hernandez, Andrew Hernandez, Jakob Green, Gracie Green, Shyla Fernandez, Myleigh Green, Delaney Green, Elizabella Green, Kadance Green, Preslie Green, Dexton Green, Vada Green, Lyle Green, Ocean Green, Edella Green, Kampton Green, Cameron Green, Caroline Green, Logan Long, Gavin Long, Zinnia Badders, James Badders, Inacia Badders, Morgan Torres, Annmarie Henriquez, Mallory Henriquez, Sara Vasquez, Abner Saxena, Zimori Hall, London Champion, Aleyda Rodriguez and William A. Rodriguez.

A graveside service for Peggy will be held Monday, July 25, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Calvary Hill Cemetery, 21723 Aldine-Westfield Road, Humble, TX 77338.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CalvaryHillFuneralHome.com for the Green family.