Violet Bond Gowdy

Violet Bond Gowdy, 84, died Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Violet was born Jan. 28, 1930, in Marietta, Okla., to Joel and Mildred Bond. She was raised in Love County, Okla., and graduated from Thackerville High School. She then attended Clarendon College before attending West Texas State University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in education. On Dec. 19, 1947, she married W.M. Gowdy in Lakeview. He preceded her in death on March 15, 2014. Violet began teaching school in 1969 in Quail. She then taught third and fourth grade at Lakeview before teaching at Memphis, where she taught seventh and eighth grade and high school junior and senior English and journalism. Some students she taught all six years. Violet continued to teach English as a second language part-time in Memphis after her retirement in 1991. She moved to Amarillo in 1998 and began substitute teaching for Amarillo Independent School District, mostly at South Georgia Elementary School until 2009. She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. Above all, she was what God called her to be, a teacher. From her own family, to her students, she not only taught English and journalism, but taught others to be better people today than they were yesterday, to believe in themselves and in our God, and that each one of us can make a difference and to pass on these beliefs. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, W.M. Gowdy; her brothers, Virgil Sampson and wife Lois Ann, James Sampson and wife Marylu and V.J. Sampson; and a sister, Glenda Sisson and husband Bob. Survivors include her children, Gayle and Diana Gowdy of McHenry, Ill., Rhonda and Cary Logan and Pat and Tonda Gowdy, all of Amarillo; a brother, John Bond and wife Alta of Ochelata, Okla.; her sisters, Edythe Sampson of Thackerville, Sharon and Phil Migues of Oak Point, Elaine and Cliff Midgley of Wister, Okla., and Murlene and Jerry Sanders of Poteau, Okla.; her sisters-in-law, Judi Sampson of Thackerville, Okla., Mozelle Richburg and husband James of Memphis and Willa Dean Nivens of Burleson; and her brothers-in-law, Jim Gowdy and wife Kathy of Amarillo and Jerry Gowdy and wife Ninfa of Abilene. The family suggests memorials be to Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Foundation, to benefit the patients at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106; Ware Living Center, 400 S.W. 14th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101; or Saint Stephen United Methodist Church, 4600 S. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79109.

Visitation Schedule

Cox Funeral Home 4180 Canyon Drive Amarillo, TX 79109 Sunday, June 01, 2014 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Service Schedule

Church Saint Stephen United Methodist Church 4600 S. Western Street Amarillo, TX 79109 Monday, June 02, 2014 2:00 p.m.

Burial Schedule

Lakeview Cemetery Lakeview , TX