Peggy Railsback

Graveside services will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 1 at Happy Cemetery with Bob Miller, pastor of Crossroads Country Church, officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 31 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Happy's Memorial Chapel. Peggy Joyce was born July 26, 1934 in Dalhart to Roy and Reba Davis. She was lovingly raised by her mother and step father, Gale Franklin. She attended Dalhart schools and was a graduate of the class of 1952. Joyce was a gifted athlete and standout basketball player. She achieved All State status two years in high school. She married Gerald Dickson Railsback in 1952. The two met at a high school tennis match. They raised four children, Brenda, Sandy, Linda, and Scott in Happy, the town without a frown.. Their kids recall a wonderful life in the WT library, the swimming pool at Buffalo Courts, the "Box," Kimbrough Stadium, dinner at Mr. Burger, WT football and basketball games, Brenda and Sandy as WT Song Girls, Scott as a Ball Boy for Joe Kerbel's Buffaloes, Brenda, Sandy, and Linda as Zetas at WT. In fact, Zeta Tau Alpha at WTAMU not only adopted, but also initiated Joyce. During Dick's coaching career she assisted with coaching duties for all of the younger basketball teams that he coached in Happy. In Happy, she was involved in many community, school, and church activities. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Happy, where she served as Church Secretary. She was also the President of WMU and served on the board for Order of Rainbow for Girls. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Happy Chapter 562 and President of Women's Study Club. Joyce and her husband built Valley Market Grocery Store in Angel Fire, New Mexico. She began working in the Agriculture department at WT and later on became the Assistant Placement Director. She drove to work in her maroon and white Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight with vanity plates that read, "Go Buffs." She ran a tight ship but yet kept everyone organized. She would even give wake up calls to a few students if they were late for class. She was the cousin of WT All American, J.W. Malone. She was a Zeta Tau Alpha alum and served as an officer and charter member of the Zeta Mother's Club. Joyce was an avid sports fan. She followed WT teams with a passion. She was a member of the WT Booster Club and a host for numerous basketball teams visiting West Texas A&M. She and Mr. Railsback traveled with the Lady Buffs to tournaments. She taught her children and grandchildren to love sports and to compete fiercely but to play with sportsmanship. In 1993, Joyce and Dick moved to Amarillo and became members of Coulter Road Baptist Church. Joyce was a lifetime supporter and encourager of students and education. She was a faithful, loyal, true, invaluable, and tireless worker. The Lady Buffs appreciated the food she prepared after every game, but they valued Dick and Joyce for their love and support even more. She raised her children to love God, to stand proudly when you see the American flag, to hold family dear, to remember reverently those who have gone before us, to take care of their friends, to always give more than you get, to be grateful for and take care of what you have, to give to those who are less fortunate, to understand the importance of an education, to laugh often, to work hard so you can play hard, to compete like a champion, to finish what you start, to do your best, and to do all of the above because you should; not because you will be paid, or applauded, or thanked, or recognized, but just because you should. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sandy Finlayson and grandson, Tyler Finlayson. The family is grateful for the wonderful loving care from BSA Hospice Nurse, Andrea Douglas. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Dick Railsback, of Amarillo; daughters, Brenda Keener and husband, Robert, of Prosper, Linda Mahard and husband, Andy, of Prosper; son, Scott Railsback and wife, Cynthia, of Wylie; son-in-law, John Finlayson, of Southlake, eight grandchildren, Erica Perry and husband, Zane, of Wolfforth, Kaitlin Mahard, of Frisco, Shelby Mahard, of Santa Cruz, California, Blair Mahard, of Prosper, Tony Finlayson and Britney, of Roanoke, Jared Price, of Lubbock, and Claire Railsback and Jake Railsback, of Wylie; great grandchildren, Presley Perry, of Wolfforth, Cody Finlayson, of Roanoke and her brother, Hoyt Davis and wife, Alene, of Dalhart. In lieu of flowers, the Railsback family is requesting donations to the patients of Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, in care of Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Foundation, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106 or to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, PO Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174.