Marva Jean Underwood

Marva Jean Underwood, 84, of Winters passed away Friday, February 20, 2009 at North Runnels Hospital in Winters due to complications from strokes.

The second eldest of five children of Marvin and Johnnie Stubblefield Turner, Marva Jean was born January 25, 1925. Her family moved on their beloved Dry Hollow Ranch where she rode horses to the Oak Creek School with her sisters. She later attended school in Norton. Marva Jean married Pat Underwood on September 4, 1942 in Norton. They moved to Camp Blandin, Morris Field, Florida during World War II. Returning to Ballinger, Pat worked for his brother, Arthur (Buck) Underwood, at Underwood Buick Company. Marva Jean and Pat moved to Winters in 1949 and together started Pat’s Buick Pontiac Car dealership. Pat died August 9, 1999. Her entrepreneurial spirit continued throughout her life with nursing, accounting and a real estate brokerage company. In 1969 she became an administrative assistant to Maurine and Edmond Richards at Fort Chadbourne Ranch. In 1980 she was given the opportunity to work with Mrs. Ray (Billie) Alderman selling real estate in Winters. She founded Underwood Real Estate in 1982 and continued until her retirement in 2000.

Marva Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, her infant son, Patrick, and her sister, Clara Lee Pitchford.

She is survived by her three children and their spouses and seven dear grandchildren: son, Randall Underwood and wife, Ann, and their son, Jackson; daughter, Jan Smith and husband, Larry, and their daughter, Kathryn; and daughter, Jackie Brooks and husband, Gary, and their children, Michele, Joshua, Michael, Sean, and Kelly. She is also survived by her best friend and sister, Barbara Lee Brock; her brother, Mannie Turner and wife, Kathleen; and her brother, William Turner and wife, Shirley. Marva Jean was blessed to have many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday at Lange Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 4:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Winters with Rev. Joe Chamness, Rev. Bill Smith, and Rev. David Bailey officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Winters.

Pallbearers will be Everett Grindstaff, Jeff Grindstaff, Bobby Airhart, H. R. Glass, James Brown, Jim West, D. B. Underwood, and Lloyd Underwood. Honorary pallbearers are Wendell Underwood, Turner Lee, Billy Ren Lee, John Stanton, Paul Airhart, Mike McDonald, Jerry Irvin, Mitchell Turner, Ricky Turner, Chad Turner, Dean Pitchford, Dale Turner, Bill Clifton, Bob Webb, Kenneth Slimp, Ricky Dean, Lanny Bahlman, Bill Calcote, Mike Calcote, Kendal Denton, Ronnie Denton, Kerwin Denton, Ricky Lara, Robert Pruser, Tommy Russell, Jimmy Smith, Roscoe Morrison, Will Duggan, Nelan Bahlman, H. M. “Jiggs” Nichols, Cecil Sankey, Barry Hilliard, and Grant Laughlin.

The family suggests that memorials be made to West Texas Rehab, the First United Methodist Church in Winters, the Rock Hotel in Winters, the Fort Chadbourne Foundation, or a favorite charity.