Cover photo for Ilene Westmoreland's Obituary
Ilene Westmoreland Profile Photo

Ilene Westmoreland

June 19, 1911 — December 10, 2006

Ilene Westmoreland

Funeral services for Mexia civic leader, Ilene Geary Westmoreland have been scheduled for Saturday, December 16, 2006. A 10:00 a.m. graveside service at Mexia City Cemetery, followed by an 11:00 a.m. memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, Mexia will be conducted by Rev. Kenneth Lane for Miss Westmoreland, who died at the age of 95 in Temple, Texas on December 10, 2006. Born in Sweetwater, Texas on June 19, 1911, Ilene was the oldest of three children. Her parents, Roy Pitt Westmoreland, Sr. and Jessie Marion Kinney Westmoreland had farming interest in Oensville, Texas and Paint Rock, Texas. Ilene and her brother, Roy, and sister, Stacey, grew up on the banks of the Concho River and in Temple at their grandmother's Hotel on Central Avenue. Some of Ilene's earliest memories were of her rides to kindergarten in Belton on the interurban trolley. In 1920 the oil boom and job opportunities brought Ilene's family to Mexia. Ilene graduated from Mexia High School and Sam Houston State Teacher's College. She completed graduate work at Columbia University in New York City before returning to Mexia to teach at Mexia Elementary School and Mexia High School. In 1934, Miss Westmoreland began working for the J. K. Hughes Oil Company and continued working for 58 years for the Hughes and Dillard families as an administrative assistant until her retirement in 1992. "Miss Ilene" is perhaps best known and remembered as the caretaker and co-founder of the Mexia High School Academic Sweater Scholarship Program. In 1960, Ilene and friend Nanine Simmons worked with the Mexia Woman's Friday Club to encourage academic achievement by awarding sweaters to 16 graduating seniors. In the past 46 years, that program has recognized hundreds of deserving students and was expanded to also award thousands of dollars in college scholarships to graduating Mexia High School seniors. Miss Westmoreland and Miss Simmons also provided leadership in motivating Mexia citizens to raise $400,000 to construct the first General Mexia Hospital in the early 1960s. Another lasting contribution was the planting of trees to beautify the downtown area. Active in community organizations, Miss Westmoreland served as president of the Business and Professional Women's Club and the Woman's Friday Club. She was a District President and State Board member of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs. She held honorary membership in Delta Kappa Gamma and served on the Gibbs Memorial Library Board. Miss Westmoreland was preceeded in death by her parents Roy Pitt (Jack) Westmoreland and Jessie Marion Kinney Westmoreland, a brother Roy Pitt Westmoreland and her sister Stacey Kinney Westmoreland Carrington. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Roy Westmoreland of Gatesville. She was a much loved "Auntie" to six nieces and nephews, eleven great nieces and nephews and three great-great nephews. She will be dearly missed by Ilene Carrington Miller and husband, Michael of Temple, Dr. Fred Carrington and wife, Andrea of Ft. Worth, Anita Carrington McClosky and husband, Jim of New Waverly, Stace Carrington and wife, Sherie of Coppell, Roy Kent Westmoreland of Spring and Elizabeth Westmoreland Thomas and husband Randy of Gatesville. Her great nieces and nephews include: Dr. Cheri Carrington and husband, Dr. Curt Hanson of Durham, NC; Lisa Carrington Voight and husband, Jason and son, Judson of Fort Worth and Tracy Carrington Derryberry and husband, Chris of Haslett, MI. Other survivors are John McClosky and wife, Missy and their sons Luke and Jack of New Waverly, Joanna McClosky of New Waverly; Mason Miller Of New Haven, CT; Mark Miller of Temple; Stacia Carrington of Austin, Cameron Carrington of Lubbock; and Savannah Thomas and Roy Dalton Thomas of Gatesville. Pallbearers for the December 16th services include: Fred Carrington, Stace Carrington, Roy Kent Westmoreland, John McClosky, Mark Miller, Roy Dalton Thomas, Cameron Carrington and Hughes Dillard. Honorary Pallbearers are: Mike Miller, Jim McClosky, Randy Thomas, Mason Miller and Jason Voight. The family will be at Blair - Stubbs Funeral Home for visitation from 4:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15th. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Academic Trust fund which the Mexia Friday Club is establishing in Ilene Westmoreland and Nanine Simmons' names, P. O. Box 534, Mexia, Texas 76667 or First Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 528, Mexia, Texas 76667 or Gibbs Memorial Library, 305 E. Rusk Street, Mexia, Texas 76667.
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