Effie Lou Studdard

Funeral services for Effie Lou Studdard, 83, of Gilmer will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Gilmer with Reverend Richard Laster, Dr. David Jenkins and Bro. Marion Palmer officiating. Interment will be 3:00 p.m., in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Panola County. Effie Lou Studdard passed away into the loving arms of her Lord on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Effie was born September 14, 1928 near the Reeves community in Panola County, Texas to Dewey and Cleo Rutherford Walker. Effie graduated from Carthage High School in 1945 and for several years worked for South Bell Telephone Company in Shreveport, Louisiana. Following her marriage to Chester in 1951 she was a homemaker and later years worked as secretary and office manager for Studdard Veterinary Clinic. As a member of the First Baptist Church in Gilmer, she was active in her ladies Sunday School Class called the Lydia Class, and loved being part of the music ministry, singing in the choir, in ensembles, trios, duets and occasional solos. In later years she so enjoyed being part of the Prime Time Choir at First Baptist Church. Effie and Chester traveled extensively following retirement to many states, Canada and one unforgettable trip to Israel. Effie is survived by her husband, Dr. Chester Studdard (longtime Gilmer Veterinarian); sons and daughters-in-law, Dwayne and Linda Studdard of Gilmer and Shane and Robin Studdard of Gainesville; nine grandchildren, Matthew and Landon Studdard of LaMarque, TX, Chase Studdard of Arlington, Charlie Bless of Gilmer and Jennifer Luster of Redwater; Elizabeth Slack and her husband Kent of Colorado Springs, CO, Anna Dickerson and her husband Derek of Denton, TX and Mary and Rachel Studdard of Gainesville; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Joshua Studdard of Schaumburg, Ill, Bailey Bless of Gilmer and Nathan and Aaron Slack of Colorado Springs, CO; sisters, Sammy and her husband Jack Butler of Spring, TX and Eva Lynn Koenig of Shreveport, Louisiana; brother, Buck Walker of Carthage; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members and friends. Pallbearers will be Matthew Studdard, Landon Studdard, Chase Studdard, Charlie Bless, Wayne Arnold and Bobby Ellison. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Lydia Sunday School Class. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2012 at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. Memorials may be made to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church in Gilmer, the Alzheimer"s Association and Heart to Heart Hospice of East Texas.