Velma Fay Henkhaus

Funeral services for Velma Henkhaus, 81, of Longview will be at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. with Father Justin Braun officiating. Burial, at her husband's side, will follow at Cathedral in the Pines cemetery under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. After a brief illness, Velma peacefully entered into her Heavenly home in the early morning hours of May 5, 2013, with her two daughters by her side. Velma was born June 14, 1931 in Rock Creek, Grayson County, Texas and was raised in a family of ten in Denison. As a youth, she attended the Baptist church and converted to Catholicism when she married the love of her life, Robert Henkhaus, with whom she was married for 45-years. She was a longtime Tyler resident until the passing of her husband. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She received her greatest joy in giving selflessly to her family and taught them how to love others by example. These are blessings her children and grandchildren will forever remember and cherish. She will also be remembered for her words of wisdom and advice she freely shared with her children and their friends. Velma was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Henkhaus; parents, Marvin and Ella Lee Ward; brothers, Dwight, Dennis, and Marvin Ward; sister Penny Trost; and twin-sister Thelma Elliott. Survivors include her son, Mark and daughter-in-law Lauren Henkhaus of Midland; daughter, Lisha and son-in-law Chris Mack of Longview; and daughter, Elisabeth and son-in-law Jim McKinley of Tyler; her beloved grandchildren Robert Henkhaus, Catherine Ballard, Max and Chloe McKinley, and Alex Mack; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two sisters, Mavoirnee Winchester of Austin and Marella Schmidt of Marshall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to East Texas Down Syndrome Group/P.O. Box 6604/Longview, TX 75608 in honor of her granddaughter, Alex Mack, with whom she had a special bond. God saw the road was getting rough, the hill was hard to climb. He gently closed those loving eyes and whispered, "Peace be Thine". The weary hours, the days of pain, The sleepless nights are passed. The ever-patient worn-out frame Has found sweet rest at last.

Velma Fay Henkhaus

June 14, 1931 - May 5, 2013