Cleoma Nadine Little Obituary (1920

Cleoma Nadine (Wray) Little, 94, passed away on October 24, 2014. She was born April 16, 1920 in Jones County, TX. She was the third of four children born to Wiley and Lillie (Mittel) Wray. Cleoma spent her growing up years in Jones County, living in Anson and Hawley, Texas. She attended public schools and graduated from Anson High School in 1937. After high school, she worked as a waitress and was very proud when she had saved enough money to buy a pair of white boots. Cleoma was athletic and played basketball and baseball in high school, baseball and bowling as an adult, and in her early twenties, roller skated professionally. Cleoma's family lived on a ranch and farms in Jones County. She experienced many things while living a farm life including feeding chickens, gathering eggs, picking and hoeing cotton and making homemade ice cream. She was always a "Tom Boy" and would take any dare. She loved to climb trees and windmills. Music was always a big part of Cleoma's life. Cleoma told her daughter a childhood memory of the time Daddy Wray bought a piano without consulting Mama Wray. She was so furious, as there was so little money. The first song Cleoma learned to play was "I dropped my dolly in the dirt", as it was all on the black keys. She sang on the radio with the Stamps Ozark Quartet in the mid 1940's. Almost every gathering at her home with family and friends throughout her life included group singing with musical instruments. She sang with the "Melody Belles" when she lived in Granbury, Texas. Cleoma married the love of her life, Hiram Sanford Little, on October 16, 1953, in Abilene, Texas. Their home became the gathering place for family and friends for the holidays and other occasions. Cleoma was always outgoing and loved to entertain. She decorated extensively for the holidays and, on one year she made a Christmas tumbleweed painted tree for the front yard. She was a wonderful cook. She was known for her Coconut Cake, Chocolate Pie and fried onion rings. She cooked everything with great skill. She loved pepper and honey, sometimes on the same food. After Hiram retired from being a Greyhound bus driver, they spent many summers in their Air Stream in Ruidoso, New Mexico, welcoming family and friends. Cleoma loved hummingbirds and kept numerous feeders full throughout the summer. She enjoyed having a garden there. Bowling brought Cleoma great joy and for 22 years she and Hiram went to the Greyhound Bowling Tournament in Las Vegas. In 1994, she took first place in the 666 series. She won numerous trophies and plaques over the years. Following Hiram's death in 1982, Cleoma continued going to Ruidoso, NM for many years. She spent some of her time volunteering as a "Pink Lady" at Hendrick Memorial Hospital in Abilene, Texas. She received a pin for having more than 7000 of volunteer hours. She enjoyed doing hand work and crafts, gardening and having family and friends over so she could cook for them. Cleoma was always high energy and was referred to as "feisty", "a pistol", and "spunky". One of her favorite sayings was "If you stop, you will rust." Cleoma was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, Mildred (Wray) Box; brother, W.A. "Cotton" Wray, nephews, Kenneth Wray Box and Bobby Dale Box and her beloved dogs Sugar and Sam. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Saunders, son Fain (Lynda) Little; grandchildren Chad Saunders, Robyn Barnett, and Gregg Little; great grandchildren Brooke (Ian) Hughes, Bailey Barnett and Cooper Little; sister Rosemary (Paul) Garrett; nephews Mark (Michelle) Garrett and Matt (Maria) Garrett; great nephews Mason and Stockton Garrett and great niece, Abigail Garrett. A memorial service will be held at Elmwood Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas on November 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, Abilene, Texas, for the "Light Up a Life" fundraiser.