Alma L. Madison

Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, Austin, Texas.Alma L. Madison went home to the Lord on March 1, 2017 after a hard-fought battle with congestive heart failure. She left this earth peacefully surrounded by the love of her partner of 62 years, Johnie Madison, Jr., and her children, Ronnie and Kelly. There will be a memorial service for Alma on Saturday, March 11,2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin, Texas.

Alma was born on November 27, 1935 in Bell County, Texas to Curtis and Alma Doss. She was the third of six children. She lived in Bell County during the early years of her life and attended elementary school in Belton and then transferred to Salado, where she graduated salutatorian from Salado High School in 1955. She met the love of her life, Johnie Madison, Jr., through her older brother, Don Doss, while she was in high school. Alma and Johnie were married on December 23, 1954 in the Salado Methodist Church. Alma and Johnie lived in Temple during the early years of their life together and had two children, Ronnie and Kelly. Johnie worked for Superior Dairies in Temple and was promoted to a position in Austin so the family moved there in 1963.

Alma worked in accounting throughout her life. She went to school in Temple after graduating from high school and earned a technical degree in bookkeeping. While living in Temple she worked at Griggs. When the family moved to Austin she took a position at Tracor and worked there in the accounting department until 1980. After leaving Tracor she continued her accounting work by helping Johnie with Turner Downs Sprinkler Co. She enjoyed her accounting work and was very adept at what she did. Having grown up during the end of the Great Depression, she was very frugal, whether at work or at home. She knew and appreciated the value of a dollar and had a work ethic based on honesty and integrity in all that she did.

Alma loved her family dearly. She made sure that her husband and children had three meals a day and clean clothes to wear. She ran a tight household and everything had its place so her house was always clean. In spite of working a full-time job, she always found time to make sure that her children participated in whatever endeavor that they wanted to pursue. She was always in the stands at the football, baseball or track events and she was a vocal supporter. Alma was proud that her children are Texas A&M graduates. This support carried on from her children to her grandchildren to her great- grandchildren. She traveled to attend the grandkids sporting events from t-ball through college, from dance recitals through half-time dance programs, even the charity Texas Music concerts her granddaughter organized. She loved her Dallas Cowboys, her Texas Aggies and always had a special place in her heart for the Reagan Raiders.

Alma also loved the outdoors and she made sure that her family spent time together enjoying God's creation. Many nights were spent camping at Inks Lake State Park, Bastrop State Park and Gamer State Park. She loved going to Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks were her favorite destinations. When Johnie finally retired for good in 2012 he and Alma were known to take off and go north with their travel trailer in search of cooler weather and beautiful vistas.

Alma defied all odds to make it to the age of 81. She had rheumatic fever as a child which caused her to miss a year of school and also set her up for many health challenges in the years to come. In 1961 she was diagnosed with a faulty mitral valve and underwent an open-heart valve repair surgery by Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston that year. This type of surgery was very new at that time but she came through with flying colors. In 1980 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy to beat that disease. She had to have her heart valve replaced in 1995 and she had that surgery in Austin. Throughout all of these trials Alma bore the burden and the pain with a positive attitude and she beat them all. She continuously displayed tremendous courage

and determination to the very end.

Alma was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Alma, and by her older brother, Don Doss. She is survived by her husband of62 years, Johnie Madison, Jr.; her son Ronnie Madison and his wife, Dana Latz Madison, who live in Lubbock; her daughter Kelly Madison Walton and her husband, Bret Walton, who live in San Antonio; her grandson Russell Madison, and his wife, Whitney, and their children Hunter, Caleb and Avery, who live in Lubbock; her grandson Michael Madison, and his wife Tessa, and their daughter Finley, who live in Lubbock; her granddaughter Amy Walton, and her fiancee Brett Harrison, who live in Louisville, Kentucky; her grandson Bradley Madison, and his fiancee Arrington Hayes, who live in Lubbock; and her granddaughter Megan Walton who lives in Chicago, Illinois. She is also survived by her older sister, Helen Tausch and her husband Scott; younger brother Curtis Ray Doss and his wife Bonnie; younger brother Jay Doss and his wife Betty; and younger sister Carol Lynn Fuller; and many, many nieces and nephews and their families. She is also survived by her fellow members of the Red Hat Society of Temple.

Alma was a woman that loved God. She attended church as often as possible and was a willing volunteer at church as long as possible. She was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Austin from 1963 until her passing. To honor her memory the family asks that in lieu of flowers, anyone that would like to make a donation in her honor please do so to Memorial United Methodist Church.