Gwendolyn Swanzy Jolly passed away on September 9, 2016 at the age of 88. The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. A celebration of Gwen’s life will be held at 10:00 am Monday, September 12, 2016 at First Baptist Church Chapel officiated by Pastor David Johnson.Gwen was born November 1, 1927 in Abilene, Texas to Douglas and Jewel (Tabor) Swanzy. Following the death of her father when she was three years old, Gwen and her mother moved to the Tabor farm in Clyde, Texas. While a student at Clyde High School she was a drum majorette, and was also Valedictorian of her graduating class. She attended the alma mater of her parents, Hardin Simmons University until her marriage on September 1, 1946 to Marshall E. Jolly, whom she had known since childhood. While Marshall pursued his degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, Gwen worked at Radio Station WHHM. Upon his graduation the couple moved to Ranger, Texas to establish his first optometric practice, and it was during this time that their three daughters, Jeri Jan, Lee Ann and Marsha Kay, were born.In 1959 the family moved to Midland, Texas. As the mother of three girls Gwen quickly became involved in a myriad of activities, and over the next few years would add to her resume such accomplishments as PTA Room Mother, Girl Scout Leader, and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church. In addition to being an avid bridge player she was an active member of the Col. Theunis Dey Chapter of the DAR where she held the office of Regent and served on the board in several capacities. For many years Gwen worked alongside Dr. Jolly in his optometric practice, Midland Visual Clinic. In their leisure time the couple enjoyed making countless trips to their beloved mountain home in Ruidoso, New Mexico. After the death of Marshall Jolly in 1987, she was married to the late Ernest W. Babb from 1999-2008.Gwen was a sweet, gentle, soft-spoken woman, known for her beautiful smile, admired for her devotion to her family, envied for her youthful complexion, and revered for her crossword puzzle skills.She is survived by her three daughters, Jeri (Mrs. Reggie) McCaslin of Midland, Lee Ann (Mrs. Marc) Lewis of Coral Gables, FL, and Marsha (Mrs. Walter) Dueease of Ft. Worth; grandchildren Jessica McCaslin, Meredith McCaslin, Lauren (Lewis) Steward, Jason Lewis, Jeffrey Pickering, Sara (Pickering) Carpenter, Tracey (Pickering) Taraba, and Cole Dueease. She also has seven great-grandchildren.Pallbearers will be Jason Lewis, Jeffrey Pickering, Cole Dueease, Daniel Steward, Adam Carpenter, and Jeffrey Taraba.The family wishes to express their sincerest gratitude to the staff and nurses at Senior Care, and to Hospice, for all their loving kindness shown to Gwen over the past few months and years. ,
