Wilma Ray Hyden Cherry, 91, passed away Friday, January 25, 2013 in Houston, Texas. Her loving husband of 58 years, Willis Harry Cherry; sister, Ouita Fay Hyden Ridge; and brother, Taylor Stewart Hyden, preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughters, Caryn Gillette-Thompson and her husband Robert, and Candice Petru and her husband Glenn; grandchildren Sean Gillette, Lisa Gillette-Bivens and her husband Kevin, Grant Petru and Cullen Petru; along with numerous other loving family and friends.
Long time Houstonian, Wilma was born July 31, 1921 to William Taylor Hyden and Archie Avo Stewart Hyden in the small town of Ozark, Arkansas located at the foothills of the vast and beautiful Ozark Mountain range. She enjoyed playing the piano for the Methodist Church in Ozark, and was the valedictorian of her high school class. Shortly after graduation she moved to Siloam Springs, AR where she worked for the town’s gas company, and met and married her husband, Harry. Because of his career as a district manager for J.C. Penney and Montgomery Ward, they made many dear friends along the way in the many places they lived; Lafayette and Alexandria, LA; Kansas City, MO; Fort Worth, Denison, San Angelo, Freeport, and Lubbock, TX. They made Houston their home in 1950, and were charter members of St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church. Together they served in many official capacities for the PTA and Spring Branch Council. Wilma always took an enthusiastic role in both of her daughter’s educations. She adored her grandchildren and was blessed to see them grow, and to leave a special imprint on each of their lives. She leaves behind family and friends who will dearly miss her smile, caring spirit, strong faith, and the way she guided us all to find optimism within any circumstance.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 1st at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bob Luton of Fairhaven United Methodist Church presiding. Her family will receive visitors prior at 9:00 a.m. Internment will follow in Memorial Oaks Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kevin Bivens, Robin Chiswell, John Gillette, Sean Gillette, Glenn Petru and Robert Thompson.
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