Sharleen Rhoads

Sharleen Wells Formby Rhoads Sharleen Wells Formby Rhoads, 92, of Plainview, left this life to join her Father and Savior in heaven on December 8, 2010 in Lubbock. Funeral Services are going to be at 10:00AM on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at First Baptist Church Sanctuary, of Plainview. Interment will be at 3:00PM on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at McAdoo Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home. A visitation will be from 6-8:00PM on Friday, December 10, 2010 at Lemons Funeral Home. Sharleen had a most glorious and interesting life. Born September 30, 1918 in Ohio, she moved as a young girl to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Graduating as Valedictorian of her high school class from Edneyville, North Carolina she went to college and graduated again as Valedictorian from Montivello College in Montivello, Alabama with a degree in English. From college in Alabama, Sharleen went to work at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. as a secretary to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Upon leaving Washington D.C., she enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin to work towards her Masters of Education. Then it got interesting In February of 1946 while working at the on-campus playhouse, she met, as she was later told, "the most eligible bachelor in the State of Texas", Marshall C. Formby of McAdoo, Texas. Marshall had already been elected as County Judge for Dickens County, the youngest man ever elected as a County Judge, served as a State Senator from his home district, and also served in the Army Corps of Engineers in England and France. After dating for just 6 weeks, he informed her they were getting married and proceeded to do just that on September 8, 1946 in Seale, Alabama. Marshall and Sharleens early years proved to be very busy times. Marshall received his Masters Degree in Journalism. The Formby's then returned to the hi-plains of Texas and put a series of radio stations on the air, the first being KPAN in Hereford. It was followed by stations in Tulia, Kermit, Colorado City, Snyder, Temple and Tyler. During all this time, Marshall and Sharleen decided to make Plainview home and he joined the law firm of Tudor, Tunnell, Lafont and Formby. 1105 S. Broadway became home and all were welcome. Two of greatest events took place shortly thereafter. The birth and adoption of Frances Ann Formby on November 7, 1955 and David Wells Formby on December 10 in 1957. While living in Plainview, Sharleen became a member of the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution), and P.E.O. Marshall always said he didn't know exactly what it stood for, but since the group always met for lunch he felt assured it meant Please Eat Out. She was also involved with P.T.A. at Hillcrest Elementary School and was Homeroom Mother probably more than she wanted to be. Other activities included the Hale County Library Association. First Baptist Church was a very important part of her life as well and the life she and Marshall instilled in Frances and David. In later years, she became involved in Wayland Baptist University sitting as a Board of Trustee, Texas Tech University College of Mass Communications and the College of Human Sciences. One of the things she and Marshall established was the Marshall and Sharleen Formby Foundation in the Southwest Collection of Texas Tech Library System. It is here that all of their papers, recordings, books, history and archived information are located. Sharleen and Marshalls life was an adventure, and where you saw one the other was usually not far behind. The greatest undertaking was Marshalls bid as a candidate for Texas Governor in the early 60's. The campaign ended, however, with a defeat to John Connolly and a car accident that nearly took the lives of Sharleen, Frances and David. The two of them travelled extensively within the continental United States and to Hawaii. In the mid 60's the entire family enjoyed a "Round the World" trip visiting the Azores Islands, England, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, South Africa and Australia. They were also extremely privileged to be aboard the first flight into Mainland China when relations were normalized in 1970 under President Nixon. Rotary International was also a big part of their lives as Marshall served as Rotary Governor not once but twice, and Sharleen always accompanied him on these visits. The 1980's brought a different pace. Due to Marshall's failing eyesight but refusal to slow down, Sharleen became his eyes, driving him where ever he needed to be. You can't separate Sharleen from Marshall because they were a team. She was always at his side as his helper, wife and sounding board. Marshall preceded her in death in December 27, 1984. In March of 1994, she married Harvey Rhoads and moved to Midland. In this she began to verse herself in the oil industry and as usual became very active in that industry learning all she could. One thing about Sharleen is that whatever her spouse was involved in she made that her world. Harvey also preceded her in death in November 2004. Upon his death she returned to her home Plainview, Texas. To summarize her life she was a giver. A giver of time, a giver of love. She was always by Marshall's side and Harvey in later life. She was proud of her heritage as a "Southern Belle" and didn't expect less of others. She was an avid reader of books, newspapers and magazines, especially those dealing with politics, World War II and history. Sharleen never used a computer preferring to deal the old-fashioned way of a hand written note or letter. In her later years she became much more of a homebody enjoying her life with her cat and her wonderful caretaker Janie Torres by her side. Janie was our angel that allowed her to stay in her home, comfortable and happy. Those left to treasure their memories with her are her daughter, Frances Formby Seales and husband Kenneth of Lubbock and son David Wells Formby of Plainview, two granddaughters Lanie Seales Pugh (Marc) of Sanford, North Carolina and Mandy Lee Formby of Plainview. Four special grandchildren Kent Seales of Littlefield, Sharla Seales Hamblin (Bill) of Littlefield, Greg Seales (Kelly) of Rockwall, Texas and Kayla Seales Roach (Mark) of Lubbock, two great-granddaughters Hayley Elizabeth Pugh and Kinsley Abigail Pugh of Sanford, North Carolina. Also are her seven special great grandchildren Shea and Bradley Hamblin both of Lubbock, Chase Bray Seales of Lubbock, Hunter and McKenzie Seales of Rockwall, Texas and Krisha Roach and Kaden Roach both of Lubbock. Also surviving is her sister Juanita Wells Hearn of Brevard, North Carolina and numerous nieces and nephews. A special thanks goes to Janie Torres who, without her, Sharleen would not have been able to remain as an independent person in her own home. Janie became a member of the Formby Family and we all knew she was in good hands. Janie also made Sharleen a member of her family taking her to her family gatherings and exposing her to an alternate culture which Sharleen grew to love and enjoy. Memorials may be made to the Marshall and Sharleen Formby Scholarship Fund, c/o Southwest Collection, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Online condolences may be made online at www.lemonsfunerals.com