Ernestine Mays

Ernestine Mays, age 89, of Amarillo, TX, went to be with her Heavenly Father on October 5, 2024. Everyone knew her as Ernie, Grandma Ernie, sis or sister. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Jared Peddy officiating.

Ernestine was born in Doddrige, AR, to Earnest and Meda Russell. The family later moved to Texarkana, AR where she graduated high school as an honor student. She wrote for The Razorback school newspaper as exchange editor, typist and a reporter. She was also part of the Quill and Scroll team. While still living in Texarkana, she worked at KCMC Radio. She later was hired by Western Union. She attended school in Oklahoma City in order to work for Western Union and graduated June 1957. She started as a clerk operator and was transferred and worked out of the Beaumont, TX office. She was really fast at answering the phones and loved working here. When she left that job, she was a District Relief Manager in the Texas area. Her favorite job though was being a wife, mom, grandmother and housewife. She loved taking care of everyone and would run the show at family gatherings. Everyone was grateful for her organization skills. Ernestine loved family. She was close to all her brothers and sisters. She took joy in being a wife, mom and especially a grandmother and great grandmother.

Ernestine met her husband, Cortez, at a laundry mat in Killeen, TX. She thought he was handsome, so she asked him how to work the washing machine. After their laundry was finished, they went bowling! Cortez and Ernestine married August 31, 1962 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Texarkana, AR. Due to the nature of Cortez's job, they moved several times; first to Midland, TX, then to Lubbock, TX, where their daughter Terri was born, back to Midland again where their second daughter, Shelley, was born, then to Laurel, MS, to Norman, OK, to Edmond, OK and back to Midland where Cortez retired. After retirement, Amarillo, TX became their home due to kids and grandkids.

Ernestine was actively involved in the churches she attended. Her favorite activity was cooking and feeding supper to church members on Wednesday night. She and Cortez were on a bowling league, and she could bowl a great score. She enjoyed hosting bridge and other gatherings of friends in her home. Her house was the house that all the kids on the block came to for an after-school snack or just to play. She enjoyed watching Shelley play sports. Traveling was a favorite of hers and she was always up for a fun trip.

Ernestine's faith is what made her the person she was. She was a Christian and loved the Lord. She set an example for others by showing them grace, kindness and unconditional love.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Cortez Mays; her daughters Terri Looney and Greg of Canyon, TX and Shelley Mays and Cindy Medeiros of Canyon, TX; her grandkids, Tori Bohannon and Alabama of Childress, TX, Kobe Looney and Laura of Salida, CO, and Kali Peddy and Jared of Creede, CO; her great grandkids, Navey Bohannon, Julia Hough, Gabriel Looney, Daxon Peddy, Maddox Peddy, Abby Looney and Lennox Peddy; her sister, Shelia Cook of Texarkana, AR; her brother, Jesse Russell and wife Barbara of Thousand Oaks, CA; a sister-in-law, Bernice Russell; along with many nieces and nephews whom she loved all dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earnest and Meda Russell, her sister, Betty Nix, and her brothers, Tommy Russell, Ralph Russel and Jerry Russell.

Her family would like to thank BSA Hospice of the Southwest for the care they gave to Ernestine in her last days. The staff at Park Place, The Sycamore and The Ware, they also thank you for all your care and mainly the love you showed and gave. So many of you said Ernestine was your favorite and we think she was also.

Memorials can be donated to Alzheimer's Association, PO Box 52405, Amarillo, TX 79124.