Our precious mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, Imp Lightner, passed peacefully from this life on Friday, April 12, 2019, surrounded by her loving and well-loved family in Dallas, Texas.
Ida Mae Pettigrew was born at home in Texarkana on January 14, 1922, and grew up in Florida on her parents’ orange grove. She excelled at academics, but also enjoyed modeling and water skiing at nearby Cypress Gardens. Ida Mae graduated from high school in Winter Haven, Florida, in 1940, ranking 7th in her class, which resulted in her attendance at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is where Ida Mae became better known as “Imp”. She went on to earn her B.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1944. Then, adventure beckoned in the form of employment at Goodyear Tire Company in Akron, Ohio, where she met the love and true excitement of her life, Jim Lightner. They were married in 1945 and just a year later welcomed their only child, Cindy.
From childhood and throughout the rest of her life, Imp had a huge sense of adventure and imagination. She desired to see the world and all of its majesty. And that is exactly what she did! Imp explored every corner of the globe by visiting each continent, including Antarctica. Her unique ability to find the best little shop and that perfect, beautiful souvenir was unmatched, which made each trip and all her stories that much better.
Imp’s creative writing skills were memorialized in her (sadly) unpublished poetry and short stories. An avid reader, she steadfastly took part in her book clubs, Preston Hill Book Club and LiSi Book Club (a past president), even attending a book review in early April.
Imp had an enduring affinity for the Arts and was even a talented artist herself. Her paintings are proudly hung in her families’ homes, which she always signed with her nickname, Imp. Her creativity was also shown in her amateur flower show judging and in her amazing skill for arranging, identifying and appreciating beautiful flowers and in her Adahi Garden Club activities. A great joy for Imp and Jim was their garden at home in Dallas. In its past glory, it surely demonstrated her love of beautiful and unique flora.
Imp also loved volunteering and social gatherings which included her treasured Richardson Women’s Club, in which she held many offices, including President. For many years, she was an energetic Sunday school and Vacation Bible school teacher. Later in life, Imp and friends were faithful attendees of Stonebriar Community Church. She was also a long time member of Northwood Country Club, where she and Jim enjoyed many dinners with family and friends.
Imp was deeply dedicated to all of her relationships and to any endeavor she undertook. Through all her moves, through Jim’s business, through their travels, her volunteer positions and hobbies, she met and made many life- long treasured friends. Entertaining these dear friends, in small or large groups, was indeed a great enjoyment for them both.
But nothing seemed to exceed her love of children. Imp’s daughter, her nieces and nephews and especially, her three grandchildren, were all adored by their beloved “Meme” and “Bunko” and they were deeply loved in return.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, James R. Lightner; by her parents, Willie (Hatcher) Pettigrew and Paul Pettigrew; by her sister, Virginia Pettigrew Hallinan; her brother, Paul G. Pettigrew; her nephew, Mark Hallinan; and her niece, Joyce Lightner Wheelis.
Survivors include: her daughter, Cindy and husband John L. Sullivan; granddaughter, Kathryn Mixon and husband Scott; granddaughter, Elizabeth Hanlon and husband Christopher; grandson, John R. “Rocky” Sullivan and wife, Kelsi; greatgrandchildren: Kaitlyn, Sullivan, Sam, Sarah, and Abbey; nieces: Jane Collins, Patty Pettigrew and Claudia Aschbrenner; nephews, Jeff Pettigrew, Kirk Hallinan, Tim Hallinan, Chris Hallinan, David Aschbrenner, Jerry Lightner and John Lightner; sister-in-law, Jackie Pettigrew and brother-in-law Dennis Hallinan; and very special cousin, Joe Dickerson.
The family extends especial and tender thanks for the outstanding, faithful help of many years given by her assistant, Nelda Divers, and for the loving attention given by her devoted caregivers, Dolores Gonzales and Dulce Lopez; by her caregiver/ housekeeper of many years, Maria Martinez; and by her caregivers Carol Gaines, Roschelle Sapp, Willie Mitchell and Maria Apfel.
Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, April 23rd, at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home on Northwest Highway, with a visitation beginning at 2:00 PM and service at 3:00 PM, conducted by Pastor David Ake of Stonebriar Community Church. Pallbearers are John L. Sullivan, Rocky Sullivan, Scott Mixon, Chris Hanlon, Sullivan Mixon and Sam Mixon.
Memorials in her honor may be made to Stonebriar Community Church, 4801 Legendary Drive, Frisco, Texas, 75034; Texas Right to Life, P.O. Box 36560 Houston, Texas, 77236-6560; The North Texas Military Foundation, P.O. Box 744203, Dallas, Texas, 75374-4203 or the charity of one’s choice
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