STANTON - Nelda Dean McDuffey was born on July 9, 1933 in Seymour, to John Earl and Clara Eunice Harris McDuffey. Her brother, Samuel Newton McDuffey was delighted to have a little sister.
She attended elementary, junior high, and some high school in Seymour until 1948 when her father was transferred to Midland, by Texas Electric Service Company. She graduated from Midland High School and went to work in the bookkeeping department at First National Bank in Midland. She met the love of her life, James Kenneth Snodgrass on a blind date. They married on Nov. 29, 1952. They celebrated their 68th anniversary with family at Debbie’s house.
They welcomed their only child, Deborah Clarene, on Sept. 22, 1954. Debbie came 1 & 1\2 months early due to Nelda’s riding in a pickup with Kenneth and her father-in-law chasing a bull across a ditch. Debbie came the next day!
She loved banking and went to work in Midland National Bank in the bookkeeping department. She advanced in the bank to teller, head teller and head branch manager of the motor bank. She loved her fellow co-workers just like family and built awesome relationships with customers. At age 52, she decided to retire from banking. They sold their home in Midland and moved to their farm in Martin County, several miles outside of Stanton. She loved living on a farm. She planted gardens, spoiled her granddaughters, Angie and Alisha, helped Kenneth raise cotton and cattle and work on ceramics in her shop. One of her greatest pleasures was making ceramics for friends and family and selling her wares at art and craft shows.
She was the world’s biggest fan when Debbie was growing up and then when Angie and Alisha came along in all their endeavors. She said she was blessed a third time when Alijah and Isaiah her great grandsons came along. At family gatherings she, Alijah and Isaiah would be playing cards, farkle, wahoo and mexican dominoes for hours! She was so proud watching “her boys” in sporting events!
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth of Stanton; daughter, Debbie Almand of Stanton; granddaughter, Angela Dawn Almand of Jacksonville, Florida; granddaughter, Alisha Marie Almand Ontiveros and husband Carlo Ontiveros of Stanton; and great grandsons, Alijah and Isaiah Ontiveros of Stanton. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Sammy and sister-in-law, Nelda Gwen McDuffey, her son in law, Delwyn Almand and a granddaughter, Jerrellyn De’an Almand.
She died Jan. 5, 2021. Funeral service was Jan. 22, at Evergreen Cemetery Chapel. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Stanton Memorial Funeral Home.