Athalee G. Webb

Athalee Geraldine Webb, formerly of Groesbeck, passed away at her daughter’s home in Terrell, with her family by her side, on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. She had been under Hospice care after suffering a severe stroke five weeks ago, and was age 87. Visitation will be held Friday, April 26, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Cobb Cemetery, with Dr. Tod Tanner of the First Baptist Church of Groesbeck officiating. Athalee was born to James Allen Hime and Selma Agnes (Raven) Hime in Charlotte, Texas on June 4, 1925. She grew up during the depression on a farm (cotton-melon-peanuts) and cattle ranch. She graduated from high school in Charlotte during World War II, and then worked as a telephone operator. Athalee met Willie (W.O.) Webb after the war, when he had been discharged from the Navy, and they were united in marriage. They moved frequently as he was employed in the oilfields, and their only child was born in Victoria. The family had moved to Groesbeck to take care of his mother, when W.O. was killed in an accident in 1978. After that, Athalee moved to Palestine to attend LVN school where her daughter was also attending RN school, and she graduated a few months after her daughter. She worked as a nurse in the hospital in Palestine a few years and then moved back to Groesbeck where she was a nurse in the Groesbeck Hospital. She then worked as nurse for Dr. J. B. Riggs until his death. Although she was old enough to retire from nursing, she remained active working as bookkeeper for Russell Forsythe and for a chiropractor in Mexia. Athalee was a member of the Groesbeck Easter Star and also enjoyed participating in the activities at the Senior Citizens Center in Groesbeck. She was honored by her family with a surprise party at the Senior Center on her 80th. birthday. After her eyesight failed and she could no longer drive, Athalee moved to her daughter’s home in Terrell, where she did not like losing her independence and not living in her own home. But she stayed busy working in the yard, doing crossword puzzles with special vision equipment (which she called her “seeing eye dog”), and babysitting Sassy and Shala (the family poodle and kitty,) until suffering a severe stroke on March 17, 2013. Mrs. Webb was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Willie Odell Webb; a brother, Allen Junior Hime; and her close friend Russell Forsythe. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Pamela L. and Walter Fears of Terrell; granddaughter, Rhonda Dunnam of Terrell; grandson, Randy Dunnam of Tyler; great granddaughter, Ryder Chesney Dunnam of Tyler; brothers, Clifford Hime of San Antonio and Buddy Hime of Jourdanton; and sisters, LaRue Hulsey of Fort Worth and Aileen Browning of Poteet.