MIDLAND - Jimmie Ruth Hayes Currie, 93 of Midland, died peacefully in her home Nov. 2, 2023, surrounded by her family. Private services will be held in Garden City.
She was born July 24, 1930, to James and Ernestine Hayes in Levelland. She grew up on a cotton farm with her parents, two sisters, and one brother. On the farm is where she developed the love of cooking and baking. In her free time Jimmie played basketball and volleyball on her high school teams and was known to be quite feisty despite being 5'3'. She made all district in both sports several years in high school.
After graduation, she moved to Midland, and began working at Sun Oil Company. This is when she caught the eye of James Currie, and for him, it was love at first sight. He saw her walking down the street and worked until he found someone who could introduce them. This lead to many dates dancing the night away. After he won her heart, she was truly devoted to him. James was called to military service and was stationed in Augusta, Ga. After a short time without her, James told her to come to be with him, even if she had to quit her job-he wanted to marry her! The two were married June 30, 1951, and started what was 65 years of happiness together.
After they got out of military service, they moved back to Garden City, where Jimmie was a homemaker, and James was a rancher and farmer. Jimmie was well-adjusted to the country life, loving to ride around the ranch with James, feeding the cattle, cooking for the ranch hands and making things prettier and easier for all those around her. She also made a very cute gate opener!
She was always a do-er; if you wanted something done, everyone knew she would help take care of it. She had active roles in her church, serving on various committees and teaching Sunday school. She also volunteered at her daughters schools as room mother every year. She was such a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as everyone's biggest cheerleader. Jimmie was also blessed with being a fabulous cook. Many generations of friends and family all loved to enjoy the delicious meals and treats that came from Mimi's kitchen.
Jimmie and James spent time in California enjoying the warm winters playing tennis and golf. There Jimmie made many close friends through her church, Bible study, tennis group and golf friends. She also had close friends with whom she played cards regularly.
She was beautiful, elegant, sweet, intelligent, athletic, and a wonderful wife and mother, but most of all she was a devout follower of Jesus and did everything she could to bring others to Christ. This is the most important legacy that she leaves her family.
She is survived by two loving daughters, and their families, daughter Cynthia (Bill) Howard and their children, Stephen (Katie) Howard, Christopher (Rachel) Howard and Richard (Megan) Howard and daughter Darla (Craig) Taylor and their children James (Grace) Taylor, and Will (Bailey) Taylor. She was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Currie Howard, Elizabeth Howard, Holt Howard, Wesley Howard, Hardy Howard, Harris Ann Howard and Evelyn Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her husband James Currie, brother Joe Hayes, two sisters, Jean Nunley and Maxine Woodard.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.