Lillie Mae Ford Combs

Lillie Mae Ford Combs was born on March 1, 1915 in Tahlequah to Albert Franklin Ford and Cora Josephine Anthney Ford. She was the second of 4 children. Lillie grew up moving around the area like most families, where her father could find work. She finished the 8th grade in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, then in 1934, at age 19, she married Robert Adair Combs and immediately became the mother to Rob's four children, all under the age of 10 who had lost their mother in childbirth. Lillie and Rob made their family home on the Illinois River at Ellerville, now known as the Combs community which was founded by Reverend Edward Combs, Rob's father. Not only was Lillie a homemaker and farmers wife in the very difficult times of the 30's and 40's, but she also carried the mail along the river to the rural communities around Combs such as Proctor, Moody, Chewy, and Scraper. Lillie was very active in the community driving a school bus, cooking Sunday meals for the preacher and his family and hosting gospel singings at her house for which Rob was a member of a quartet. Lillie began raising her second family when she gave birth to her only child, Dale Combs in 1942. She was appointed the Ellerville Postmaster on March 14, 1947 and remained in that position until the post office closed on December 31, 1954. In 1959, Lillie and Rob moved to Tahlequah where they built a house from the wood that had been salvaged from the torn down Ellerville post office and Lillie began working at Ben Franklin. Before Rob passed away in 1962, Lillie had stopped working at the dime store and began raising her third family, her grandchildren Dower and Rhonda. She devoted her time to her grandchildren, never missing a church, school, or sporting event that they were involved in. During this time Lillie was also the primary caregiver for her own mother, Cora, in her home then later in a nursing home. Lillie was an accomplished seamstress as she lovingly crafted quilts, clothing and even formal dresses. She tended the most beautiful flower gardens in the neighborhood, raised her own vegetables and then canned them.Lillie was the last of her generation in the Combs family. She served the Lord faithfully during her 94 years on this earth and has left a legacy of family and friends who will walk a little taller in her shadow. She was a long time Christian and member of the Combs Baptist Church until she and Rob moved to town. Lillie and Rob helped build the First General Baptist church in Tahlequah where she remained a member until she was unable to attend. Lillie Combs was residing in the Cherokee County Nursing Center when she left this world on May 23, 2009 at the age of 94 years to be with the Lord Jesus Christ.Lillie Mae Combs is preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert Adair Combs, brother Roy Ford, sister Eunice Johnson, 2 sons Dale Combs, and Robert Lynn Combs, and granddaughter Rebecca Anderson Devine. She is survived by one brother Troy Ford and wife Juanita of Tahlequah, son James Leslie Combs of Nevada, daughter Ardith Black of Texas, daughter Pearl Anderson and husband Don of Texas, 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren, along with a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Pallbearers will be Kyle Combs, Brett Hansen, Joe Collins, Dale Wilcox, Jim Rogers, and Dr. James Brixey.Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday May 27, 2009 at the Reed-Culver Funeral Chapel with Bro. John Shafer officiating. Interment will follow at the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home in Tahlequah, OK.