Wilma Hutcherson Friend

Wilma H. Friend, 82, formerly of Ozona, Texas, peacefully passed away Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001, in San Angelo, Texas, in the presence of her family and close friends. Graveside service will be in Ozona at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Preddy Funeral Home conducting services. Wilma was born May 29, 1919. She was preceded in death by her parents, B.W. and Lucille Hutcherson; one sister, Wynona Scroggins; two brothers, James Hutcherson and Rex Hutcherson; her husband, Batts Friend; and son, Benny Friend. "Nana," as her grandchildren called her, is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Clayton and Joanie Friend; her grandchildren, Lee Friend, Francine Friend, Joe and Raydell Friend, Clay and Debbie Friend, Zane and Lisa Friend, Todd and Angela Friend; her great-grandchildren, LaShey, Cheyenne, Joe Batts, Madison and Abby; several nieces and nephews, Eddie, Dannie and Krista Klebold; two sisters-in-law, Jeannie Hutcherson and Louise Hutcherson; a special friend, Mary Coker; several cherished relatives; and a host of friends all very dear to her. Wilma liked to stay busy. She graduated from Sonora High School and attended Denton Women's College where she majored in music. She gave piano and organ lessons to many students in Sonora and Ozona for several years. Many times she would play her organ for a dance at the Ozona Country Club on Saturday night and for church on Sunday morning at the Ozona Methodist Church. Wilma loved to cook and entertain for all of her friends and friends of her family when she lived on the ranch in Crockett County. She also loved to travel. She went on six different cruises with the last one in September 2001. She was a member of the Eastern Star in Sonora, Texas, for more than 50 years. To entertain herself in the solitude of living at home on the ranch, she started constructing miniature old-time country street scenes out of wood and just about anything she could find. She even entered some in the San Angelo Stock Show Arts and Crafts show. Her failing eyesight eventually slowed her down and she couldn't continue with this hobby, but she didn't let it get her down. She even laughed at herself one time when she beat a leaf to pieces with a flyswatter thinking it was a bug on the floor. She started watching NASCAR car races on television with her son Clayton and could tell you the names of several of the drivers although she couldn't see them. She enjoyed life. A special word of thanks from Wilma and her family goes to the staff at the Royal Estates where she was made to feel at home away from her home and also to the caring ICU unit at Shannon Medical Center. Pallbearers will be James "Butch" Hutcherson, Brian Hutcherson, Wade Stokes, Eddie Klebold, Tuffy Whitehead, Glen Richardson, Olie Smith and Stanley Mayfield. Honorary pallbearers will be James A. Carter, Joe Sanchez and Eddie Hale. The family will be staying at the W.E. and Mary Friend home in Ozona the morning of the funeral hosted by Carol and Tuffy Whitehead and Rosalie and Glen Richardson. Memorials should be sent to a favorite charity.