Ethelyn Faye McCann

Ethelyn Allen McCann, of Midland, Texas, and formerly of Big Spring, Texas, a charter member of America's greatest generation, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 24, 2016, at Manor Park in Midland, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2016 in the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring, Texas, with Mike Couch, of First Baptist Church of Big Spring, officiating. The family will receive friends and visitors at the funeral home in Big Spring on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. -7:30 pm.Ethelyn was born April 30, 1918, on the family farm in Navarro County, Texas, near Corsicana, to John Patrick Allen and Olivia Bressie Allen. She moved at a young age with her family to Hamlin, Texas, where her father farmed five miles south of town. She subsequently graduated Hamlin High School in 1935 as salutatorian and then left home to attend Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas.Following college, Ethelyn joined her family in Kermit after her father had taken a position in the oil and gas industry with Ralph Lowe. In Kermit, Ethelyn met the only man she ever loved, T. H. McCann, a young man of true grit, uncommon valor and unquestionable integrity, and the two were married in Houston on July 11, 1942. Shortly thereafter, T. H. joined the Army and left for Fort Lewis, Washington, while Ethelyn relocated to Long Beach, CA, to join the war effort by working in the shipyards.After the war Ethelyn and T. H. made their home in Breckenridge, Texas, where T. H. was the area jobber for Sinclair Oil & Gas products. Then in 1951, the McCanns settled in Big Spring, Texas, where T. H. formed his company distributing petroleum products throughout the Permian Basin to various drilling contractors and agricultural producers as well as other commercial enterprises.After T. H. passed away suddenly in November, 1973, Ethelyn stayed busy with her various investments in oil and gas, real estate and the stock market as well as traveling the world, playing bridge with her many, many friends and staying active in First Baptist Church of Big Spring of which she was a pillar. She cherished every chance she got to spend time with all her grandchildren.Ethelyn will forever be remembered by all who knew her for her quiet resolve, her kind and gentle spirit, her steadfast Christian character as well as her razor-sharp wit and wonderful sense of humor. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Big Spring for over 60 years having taught Sunday School for almost 50 years and faithfully serving her church in a variety of capacities. As a cook, she was unsurpassed for it was common knowledge that friends and family would run through a brick wall, if necessary, to score a sampling of her chocolate pies, apricot fried pies, and chicken fried steaks.She is survived by her son Tom McCann and his wife Ann of Austin, Texas, and their three daughters Tara Moore and her husband Tom of Flower Mound, Texas; Ashley Lepine and her husband Mike of Lakeway, Texas; and Raygan Watson and her husband Mike of San Antonio, Texas.Ethelyn is also survived by her daughter Betty Newman and her husband Terry of Whitney, Texas, and their children Connally Newman and his wife Robin of China Springs, Texas; Laura Rose and her husband Eric of Midland, Texas; and Lisa Firle and her husband Brian of Boulder, Colorado.Ethleyn is also survived by six great-grandchildren Wiley James Newman, Dash and Cross Lepine, Jake and Libby Moore and Winnie and Charlie Watson. Also surviving are sister-in-law Lynn Haumont of San Diego, CA, as well as several nieces and nephews.Ethelyn was pre-deceased by her husband, T. H., by her parents, a brother, Bud Allen in 1942, a brother Bill Allen of Vista, CA, in 2015, and a sister, Bernice Rubin Cardwell of Midland, in 1996.The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Manor Park Younger Center and Home Hospice of Midland for the loving care extended to Ethelyn during her illness. Also thanks to Dr. Raj Patel and Dr. Chau Le for the caring treatment extended to Ethelyn in her final years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Big Spring, Texas, Manor Park, Inc. in Midland or Home Hospice of Midland.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com ,