Lucille Lichten Puckett

Lucille L. Puckett, age 98, of Midland, Texas, passed away on Saturday, June 23, 2012 in Midland Memorial Hospital, Midland, Texas. She was born to Mathilda Ebert Lichten and John Martin Lichten on September 17, 1913 in Hackensack, New Jersey. In 1931, she graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School in New Jersey in the midst of the Depression and was one of the first in her class to get a job. She was initially employed in the personnel department of the New York headquarters of Chemical Bank. Within a short period however, displaying excellent organizational, clerical and dictation skills, she was made head of the bank’s secretarial department.

In 1937, Lucille moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where she worked for Phillips Petroleum Company as secretary to the head of the land department. When Mrs. Jane Phillips was looking for a social secretary, her husband, Frank Phillips, asked the head of the land department who his best worker was. Lucille was recommended and spent the next three years as Mrs. Phillips’ private secretary, arranging her private and social calendar, shuttling between Bartlesville and New York City on shopping expeditions for the family for needed supplies and holiday gifts and, when the Phillips family established Woolaroc Museum in Bartlesville, OK, she had the task of inventorying and cataloging all of the initial artifacts and artwork on display in the Lodge and Ranch.

While working for Phillips, Lucille met and married Collin Obin Puckett on August 4th, 1939, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Their son, Thomas C. Puckett was born in May, 1945. In 1946, the family moved to Midland, Texas where Collin opened a land company.

Lucille was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Midland and was the last surviving charter member of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. She was the first Sunday School superintendent of St. Nicholas Church and a devoted preschool Sunday and Vacation Bible School teacher for over 55 years. At St. Nicholas, she was an Altar Guild member, Vestry member, Daughter of King member, and held various positions with the church’s Women of the Church organization, including serving a term as President. Lucille was extremely talented in knitting, embroidery and fine needlepoint. Over the years, she made many beautiful altar cloths and kneeling cushions to adorn the sanctuaries of St. Nicholas and Christ Church, Midland.

She was a devoted and regular volunteer at the Midland Veterans Home from 1968 to 2001, often bringing small gifts, birthday cards or writing letters for veterans living there over the years. She was active with Meals on Wheels, started a church sponsored “Groceries for the Needy” and participated in her Church’s “Christmas in April” projects. An energetic, kind woman who was always looking for ways to help others, she had many devoted Godchildren, friends and acquaintances the world over.

Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Collin O. Puckett (1981), her brother, John C. Lichten of Manhasset, NY (2006) and her sister, Anna Lichten Wistuber of Santa Monica, CA (1965). She is survived by her son, Thomas Collin Puckett, of Queensland, Australia, a grandson, Colin, four nieces; Ruth Lichten Harris of Los Angeles, CA, Dorothy Lichten Perry of Beverly, MA, Carol Wistuber Rincon of Tuscon, AZ and Lisa Puckett Pesek of Lake Jackson, TX, six nephews; John C. Lichten, Jr. of Huntington, NY, John Wistuber of Phoenix, AZ, Tom Wistuber of Phoenix, AZ., Richard Puckett of Puyallup, WA, Ray Puckett of Amarillo, TX, and Donald Puckett of Sydney Australia and many great and great-great grand nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at the Ellis Funeral Home, 801 Andrews Highway, Midland, Texas on Monday, June 25 from 5:00-7:00PM. A celebration of life will be held at Christ Church, Midland, 5501 North Midkiff Road at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 26th, 2012. Reception immediately following at Christ Church. Interment will be private. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home or the Church. If preferred, donations in Lucille Puckett’s name may be made to Christ Church, Midland or Saint Francis Children’s Home, Salina, KS. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com.

Pallbearers will be Mike Slayter, John Holmes, Jim Shaw, Bill Gilmore, Bob Keating, Taing Meang Nhoy, Steve Shaw and Harry P. McClintock, III (Honorary). The family wishes to express its appreciation for the skills and many courtesies of the personnel and staff of Polo Park, The Younger Center of Manor Park, Hospice of Midland Hospital and to Dr. Gregory Bartha, MD.