Nancy M. McArthur Cumbie

Nancy (McArthur) Cumbie, of Lufkin, was born December 25, 1924 in Montgomery County, Georgia, the daughter of the late Mary Clyde and W. T. McArthur, Sr. She passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at her residence.

Nancy lived eighty-five great years, blessed with good health, surrounded by loving families and friends in Georgia, Beaumont, and Lufkin, Texas. She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother and grandmother whose passion was caring for her family and friends. Not a day went by that she did not check up on family or friends from Georgia to Texas in a manner that made all around her feel better. She was a true genteel lady of the South, who lived a life of dignity and love for others.

After attending public schools in Montgomery County, Georgia, she graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. She worked for several years until she met and married the love of her life, Jim Cumbie, in 1953.

Nancy and Jim settled in Waycross, Georgia where he worked in the timber industry and Nancy gave birth to two wonderful daughters, Dianne and Mary Carol and a son, Jimmy. Nancy and Jim and the kids loved traveling to see their numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members throughout the South, including the annual Thanksgiving family reunion, which continues today in McGregor, Georgia. Nancy loved having her family together on holidays, which was appropriate as all her loved ones considered her to be an angel since she was born on Christmas day.

In 1967, Nancy and Jim followed Jim's career in the timber industry and moved to Beaumont, Texas, but she, Jim and the kids never forgot and always cherished their "Georgia roots."

During their stay in Beaumont, Nancy and Jim made great friends while raising the kids and sending them off to college. Nancy established herself in the community through service at the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and through other service organization. She also found time to enjoy golf, bridge, and other social activities during her years in Beaumont.

In 1980, Nancy and Jim moved to Lufkin, where they enjoyed great years with friends made at church, Crown Colony and with Jim's fellow employees at Temple Inland. Nancy and Jim were at their best when they were at each other's side, and their love and affection for each other was real and enduring.

Nancy always gave her time abundantly to the outreach efforts of First Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for thirty years. She loved the church and cared tremendously about its mission and her fellow church members, as particularly after her husband's passing, the church became an extension of her family. In Lufkin, she also had great times with her breakfast groups, birthday clubs, and the "Spools" group.

She loved visiting new parts of the country, but her favorite travel spot was always any chance she had to "return to Georgia" and see her dear brothers, James and Don and other family members.

Her family will always remember her as someone who woke up every day thinking about "who can I help today", as that was her driving passion that kept her upbeat for eighty-five years. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends, but they all take solace in knowing that she is with her Lord and that she had many great years of loving and being loved by others.

She is survived by her children, Dianne Hunt and husband Stacy, Mary Carol Kelley and husband Drew and Jim Cumbie Jr. and wife Jennifer; grandchildren, Amy and David Stephens, Stephen and Ricki Hendrix, Lauren Hendrix, Caroline Kelley, Andrew Kelley, Clarie Cumbie, Trey Cumbie, and Camille Cumbie; brother, Don McArthur; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.

Mrs. Cumbie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim Cumbie, Sr.; brothers, W. T. McArthur, Jr., Henry McArthur and James McArthur; and sisters, Erin Jenkins, Sarah Marston and Margaret Franklin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Stephen Hendrix, Andrew Kelley, Trey Cumbie, Stacy Hunt, Drew Kelley and David Stephens.

Expressions of sympathy in Mrs. Cumbie's memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 607 Janeway, Lufkin, Texas 75901; or to Christian Information & Service Center, 501 S. Angelina, Lufkin, Texas 75901.

Memorial services for Mrs. Cumbie will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2010 in the First Presbyterian Church, with Reverend Jim Ainsworth officiating. Private interment services will precede the memorial service in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com.

Gipson Funeral Home; directors