Connie Ray Welmaker

Connie Ray Parham Welmaker was born July 19, 1914, in the Carroll Community near Mt. Sylvan, Tx, in Smith County. She passed into the arms of her Savior on April 9, 2011. A celebration of life will be held at the Greggton United Methodist Church, Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 2 p.m, Dr. Jonathan Bynum, presiding. Visitation will be at Rader Funeral Home, Longview, 6-8 p.m., Monday, April 11, 2011. Mrs. Welmaker was one of 13 children born to Ida Pearl Jeffus Parham and Thomas Monroe Parham. Three sisters died in infancy. She is survived by her daughters, LaJuanda Emery of Longview and Cherie Strom and husband, Eddie, of Rockwall, Tx. She was preceded in death by her husband, N. C. Welmaker, in 1998, and sisters Zelma, Lottie, Betty, and LaVerne, and brothers, Eugene, Howard, Lynn, Alton, and Henry Cass. Mrs. Welmaker had five grandchildren, Bruce Boyd and wife, Rhonda; Bryan Boyd and wife, Karen; Mitchell Modisett, Roslyn Modisett and David Modisett. She had six great grandchildren, Brittany Modisett, Travis Modisett, Jordan Modisett, Morgan Modisett, Michael Modisett, and Alaina Claire Boyd. A member of the Greggton United Methodist Church since 1950, Mrs. Welmaker spent many hours of service in the church that was so close to her heart. She was a member of the Sunshine Class, and had a special place with the members of the Welmaker-Joy Class, where her husband served as teacher. In the formation of the current Greggton United Methodist Church facility on Pine Tree Road, Mrs. Welmaker and her husband worked to raise money to build the new church. Mr. Welmaker and others from the congregation petitioned the Methodist Conference to receive approval to purchase the 12 acres of land where the new church would be built. To help raise money for new equipment, especially for the kitchen, Mrs. Welmaker and members of the Women's Missionary Union cooked for the Greggton Lions' Club for many years. Starting in 1960, Mrs. Welmaker turned her love for people towards working in various ladies' retail fashion stores in Longview, including Dotties, Riffs, M&S, Sugar Daddy's, and Mary's. She continued to work part time at M&S until her early 90's. A bright smile and a sunny disposition set Mrs. Welmaker apart. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. She shared her life with many friends and family. She had a lifetime love of playing Bridge, and played with her friends at the Jalepena Tree until three weeks before her death. For the last year of her life, she made her home with her grandson Bryan and his wife, Karen. Their home became her home and they took especially good care of her. Her family was the centerpoint of her life - sister-in-law, Mary Lee Parham Howell and her family, Van, Tx., and many nieces and nephews and their families were held dear to her heart. She loved family all her life and was never happier than being at a reunion where everyone would sit around, talking and laughing about good times. Love and prayers for family and their welfare were always first in her heart. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Greggton United Methodist Church, 1101 Pine Tree Road, Longview, TX 75604, or Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network, 717 N. Edith, Longview, TX 75601 or to a charity of choice.

Connie Ray Welmaker

July 19, 1914 - April 9, 2011