Sallie Lavina Strain

Sallie Lavina Womble Strain was born June 21, 1932 in Hereford, Texas to C. Baker and Ruth Womble, the granddaughter of Deaf Smith County pioneers Troy Womble and Sallie Alphadeen Baker Womble and the late William Epperson and Vina Owl Epperson of Arkansas.  Named after her grandmothers, Sallie often expressed gratitude that she was named Sallie Lavina instead of Alphadeen Owl.  She grew up on the family farm northwest of Dawn, Texas where her father farmed with his father and brother and near many of her Womble cousins.  She attended the Dawn School, West Texas Demonstration High School in Canyon and graduated from Hereford High School and West Texas State College.

She began her teaching career in Spearman, Texas, where she taught junior high and high school English and speech. It was in Spearman where she met Robert Strain of Millsap, Texas, a high school vocational agriculture teacher.  They were married in Hereford on March 12, 1955.

In 1957, Sallie moved back to Deaf Smith County where she and Robert began farming with her father.  There they raised two children.  Sallie was involved in many community activities in Dawn and Hereford; among them were Dawn Music Club, Dawn Community Association, and Kings Manor Auxiliary.  She was also active in First United Methodist Church in Hereford, teaching the Melody Sunday School Class for many years, being a lifetime member of United Methodist Women and serving as Chair of the Administrative Board.  In 1976 she was elected the first female trustee of the Hereford School Board of Trustees and was later elected president. The Deaf Smith County Chamber of Commerce awarded her the “Bullchip” award for outstanding civic leadership.

Always the teacher, Sallie later went to work for the Texas Plains Girl Scout Council where she trained adult Girl Scout leaders and managed the office.  She found providing opportunities for girls and young women to be especially rewarding.  While living in Amarillo, she was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Amarillo Business Women’s Network.

After enjoying several years of retirement and traveling and socializing with some of her high school friends, she moved to Manor Park in Midland to be closer to family.  She enjoyed the bible studies and other activities at the Helen Greathouse Manor at Manor Park.

Sallie was predeceased by her husband in 1990, and her parents.  Sallie is survived by her son, Wesley of Midland and his wife Gail and daughter Emily; her daughter, Sherry of Dunmore, Pennsylvania and her wife, Rose and sons Eugene and William; twelve nieces and nephews from her husband’s family, several of her Womble cousins, her sister-in-law, Darline Strain and her special friends, Betty Davenport and Irene Trotter of Amarillo and Ann Worthan of Midland.

Sallie died Monday, April 12, 2021 in Midland.

Her niece Deb remembered her as a “servant of love – daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, teacher, and leader.  She touched many lives with her kind heart and soft voice.”

Graveside services will be at West Park Cemetery, Hereford, Texas on Monday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Lane Boyd officiating.  A memorial service in the chapel at First United Methodist Church of Midland will be held on Saturday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m., with the Rev. Steve Brooks officiating.

Honorary pallbearers are her nieces and nephews, Sandy Walsh, Cindy Brown, Sharon Sullivan, Bill Schick, Debra Grace, Kris Strain, Janet Robbins, Kevin Strain, Lee Strain, Jim Schick, Wade Strain and Robert Strain.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Sallie’s medical team in Midland, Drs. Chau Le, Jim Barnett, David Watkins, Ritchie Rosso and Richard Culbert; the Manor Park staffs at the Helen Greathouse Manor, Mabee Center and Cowden Cottage; and the fine friends at Hospice of Midland.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Ethel Womble Scholarship fund for future teachers, P.O. Box 95, Hereford, Texas 79045 or any favorite charity.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”  Sallie has left us a legacy of giving and a challenge to give.

The plaque on her door said “Scatter Smiles.”  Family and friends will miss her, but we are all smiling.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.