Verna "Irene" Close

Verna “Irene” Close, 99, of Amarillo, passed away Thursday, October 10, 2019. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Monday at Paramount Baptist Church, 3800 S. Western St. with Norman Rushing of Central Baptist Church of Pampa, Dr. Andrew Hebert of Paramount Baptist Church, and Pastor Lance Herrington, Median and Senior Adult pastor at Paramount Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:00 pm Monday at Childress Cemetery in Childress, Texas. The family will receive friends from 3:00-5:00 pm Sunday at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Dr. Irene was born April 24, 1920 in Childress to Jesse and Minnie Evans. When she was nine years old, she accepted Jesus as her Savior in the original First Methodist Church in Childress. She served her Savior faithfully for 90 years. Later in life, she attended First Baptist Church of Childress. She graduated from Childress High School. She married Edmund “Wimpy” Close in 1942 at Childress. They farmed outside of Childress for many years. In 1966, Irene began working for Dr. G.B. Blackwell as his office manager, and worked there for 28 years. After her retirement in 1994, Irene began volunteering at Childress Regional Hospital. Her volunteer position evolved into a part-time receptionist job at the hospital, where she remained five more years. Irene was a talented crafter. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, crochet, and counted cross-stitch. She also painted and did ceramics. Irene moved to Amarillo in 2015 at the age of 95, where she attended Paramount Baptist Church. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edmund Close; her infant son, Lynn Close; two brothers, Harvey Evans, and Fred Evans; a sister, Frances Sims; two grandsons, Jarrod Norman, and Jeffrey Norman; and a son-in-law, Jerry Norman. Survivors include a daughter, Sue Norman of Timbercreek Canyon; a niece, Dale Hoover and husband Curt of Canyon; a great-grandson, Jeramy Norman of Dallas; two great-granddaughters, Brooke Norman of Plano, and Journi Norman of Lewisville; a great-great-grandson, Major Gipson; several other nieces and nephews; numerous cousins; and many friends. In honor of celebrating the life of Irene, please feel free to wear her favorite color, red. The family suggests memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

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