Ouida Ophelia Palmertree Biggers died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, February 9, 2007. She had resided in Lemitar, New Mexico, the last few months.
Ouida was born on April 22, 1922, in the piney woods of Montgomery County, Mississippi. She was the second child born to Thomas Caloway Palmertree and Eva May Bingham Palmertree. Her parents taught her important values such as perseverance through hard work, tenacity to improve, respect for others, pride in her country, and faith in God. She accepted Christ at an early age in the Hebron Baptist Community and was a long time member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa.
Even at an early age, learning and education were important to Ouida. She played guard on the Kilmichael High School girls' basketball team, and they advanced to the state play-offs during her senior year.
On March 18, 1938, two months before Ouida graduated from high school she married Donnell Biggers. They lived in Mississippi until moving to Odessa, Texas, during the early 50's.
After her children began attending school, Ouida enrolled and graduated from Odessa Junior College. Later in 1963 she received a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Sul Ross State University. She earned additional certification from Texas Woman's University.
Ouida began her teaching career in 1956. She taught special education for Odessa Opportunities Center and ECISD until her retirement in 1981.
Ouida had a passion and talent for painting porcelain. She was a member of the Permian Basin Porcelain Art Club and served as president in 1991-92 and in l993-94. She received great pleasure in giving her friends and family gifts of her award winning, hand painted china.
Another great passion of Ouida's was Kappa Kappa Iota. In 1964, she became a charter member of Beta Epsilon Conclave. She served in all offices on the local, state and national levels and numerous state and national committees. In 1978 Ouida was installed as Texas State President and in 1988 as National President.
She was the first recipient of the Texas Kappa Kappa Iota Distinguished Educator Emeritus Award. Texas Kappas affectionately called her Delta State's Yellow Rose and they presented her with a Kappa Life Membership in 1989.
She established the Donnell Biggers Scholarship Fund in memory of her late husband. Scholarships have been awarded to students studying to become educators. Another philanthropic project that Ouida supported included working for abused and neglected children and adults.
Her greatest love was for her family and especially Donnell and their three daughters. They had been married 44 years at the time of his death, November 9, 1982.
Ouida was preceded in death by her husband and parents; a brother and sister; son-in-law, John H. Cole; and granddaughter, Jo Beth Landers Gurr.
She is survived by her three daughters, Charlie Donnita Cole of Odessa, Eva Nell Landers and husband, Donald of Clyde, and Vicki Louise Holland and husband, Dudley, of Lemitar, New Mexico; seven grandchildren: Laura Benbow, Michelle Lambert, John Cole, Donavan Cole, Wade Landers, Jennifer L. Zammeron and Blair Holland; and 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to her family, she is survived by numerous Kappa Kappa Iota sisters and long time friend, Inez Carlton.
Graveside services were held Monday, February 12, 2007, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa; Lonnie Hamil conducted the service.
Pall bearers were John Cole, grandson; Deven Cole, Byron Cole, Kiefer Cole, and Ryan Baldwin, great-grandsons; Jayson Quinn, family friend; and David Hall.
Memorials may be made to the Donnell Biggers Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Agnes Wright, Delta State Treasurer, 215 Madrid, Universal City, TX 78148-3140 or the charity of your choice.
Ouida was born on April 22, 1922, in the piney woods of Montgomery County, Mississippi. She was the second child born to Thomas Caloway Palmertree and Eva May Bingham Palmertree. Her parents taught her important values such as perseverance through hard work, tenacity to improve, respect for others, pride in her country, and faith in God. She accepted Christ at an early age in the Hebron Baptist Community and was a long time member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa.
Even at an early age, learning and education were important to Ouida. She played guard on the Kilmichael High School girls' basketball team, and they advanced to the state play-offs during her senior year.
On March 18, 1938, two months before Ouida graduated from high school she married Donnell Biggers. They lived in Mississippi until moving to Odessa, Texas, during the early 50's.
After her children began attending school, Ouida enrolled and graduated from Odessa Junior College. Later in 1963 she received a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Sul Ross State University. She earned additional certification from Texas Woman's University.
Ouida began her teaching career in 1956. She taught special education for Odessa Opportunities Center and ECISD until her retirement in 1981.
Ouida had a passion and talent for painting porcelain. She was a member of the Permian Basin Porcelain Art Club and served as president in 1991-92 and in l993-94. She received great pleasure in giving her friends and family gifts of her award winning, hand painted china.
Another great passion of Ouida's was Kappa Kappa Iota. In 1964, she became a charter member of Beta Epsilon Conclave. She served in all offices on the local, state and national levels and numerous state and national committees. In 1978 Ouida was installed as Texas State President and in 1988 as National President.
She was the first recipient of the Texas Kappa Kappa Iota Distinguished Educator Emeritus Award. Texas Kappas affectionately called her Delta State's Yellow Rose and they presented her with a Kappa Life Membership in 1989.
She established the Donnell Biggers Scholarship Fund in memory of her late husband. Scholarships have been awarded to students studying to become educators. Another philanthropic project that Ouida supported included working for abused and neglected children and adults.
Her greatest love was for her family and especially Donnell and their three daughters. They had been married 44 years at the time of his death, November 9, 1982.
Ouida was preceded in death by her husband and parents; a brother and sister; son-in-law, John H. Cole; and granddaughter, Jo Beth Landers Gurr.
She is survived by her three daughters, Charlie Donnita Cole of Odessa, Eva Nell Landers and husband, Donald of Clyde, and Vicki Louise Holland and husband, Dudley, of Lemitar, New Mexico; seven grandchildren: Laura Benbow, Michelle Lambert, John Cole, Donavan Cole, Wade Landers, Jennifer L. Zammeron and Blair Holland; and 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to her family, she is survived by numerous Kappa Kappa Iota sisters and long time friend, Inez Carlton.
Graveside services were held Monday, February 12, 2007, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa; Lonnie Hamil conducted the service.
Pall bearers were John Cole, grandson; Deven Cole, Byron Cole, Kiefer Cole, and Ryan Baldwin, great-grandsons; Jayson Quinn, family friend; and David Hall.
Memorials may be made to the Donnell Biggers Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Agnes Wright, Delta State Treasurer, 215 Madrid, Universal City, TX 78148-3140 or the charity of your choice.
Ouida Ophelia Palmertree Biggers died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, February 9, 2007. She had resided in Lemitar, New Mexico, the last few months.
Ouida was born on April 22, 1922, in the piney woods of Montgomery County, Mississippi. She was the second child born to Thomas Caloway Palmertree and Eva May Bingham Palmertree. Her parents taught her important values such as perseverance through hard work, tenacity to improve, respect for others, pride in her country, and faith in God. She accepted Christ at an early age in the Hebron Baptist Community and was a long time member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa.
Even at an early age, learning and education were important to Ouida. She played guard on the Kilmichael High School girls' basketball team, and they advanced to the state play-offs during her senior year.
On March 18, 1938, two months before Ouida graduated from high school she married Donnell Biggers. They lived in Mississippi until moving to Odessa, Texas, during the early 50's.
After her children began attending school, Ouida enrolled and graduated from Odessa Junior College. Later in 1963 she received a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Sul Ross State University. She earned additional certification from Texas Woman's University.
Ouida began her teaching career in 1956. She taught special education for Odessa Opportunities Center and ECISD until her retirement in 1981.
Ouida had a passion and talent for painting porcelain. She was a member of the Permian Basin Porcelain Art Club and served as president in 1991-92 and in l993-94. She received great pleasure in giving her friends and family gifts of her award winning, hand painted china.
Another great passion of Ouida's was Kappa Kappa Iota. In 1964, she became a charter member of Beta Epsilon Conclave. She served in all offices on the local, state and national levels and numerous state and national committees. In 1978 Ouida was installed as Texas State President and in 1988 as National President.
She was the first recipient of the Texas Kappa Kappa Iota Distinguished Educator Emeritus Award. Texas Kappas affectionately called her Delta State's Yellow Rose and they presented her with a Kappa Life Membership in 1989.
She established the Donnell Biggers Scholarship Fund in memory of her late husband. Scholarships have been awarded to students studying to become educators. Another philanthropic project that Ouida supported included working for abused and neglected children and adults.
Her greatest love was for her family and especially Donnell and their three daughters. They had been married 44 years at the time of his death, November 9, 1982.
Ouida was preceded in death by her husband and parents; a brother and sister; son-in-law, John H. Cole; and granddaughter, Jo Beth Landers Gurr.
She is survived by her three daughters, Charlie Donnita Cole of Odessa, Eva Nell Landers and husband, Donald of Clyde, and Vicki Louise Holland and husband, Dudley, of Lemitar, New Mexico; seven grandchildren: Laura Benbow, Michelle Lambert, John Cole, Donavan Cole, Wade Landers, Jennifer L. Zammeron and Blair Holland; and 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to her family, she is survived by numerous Kappa Kappa Iota sisters and long time friend, Inez Carlton.
Graveside services were held Monday, February 12, 2007, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa; Lonnie Hamil conducted the service.
Pall bearers were John Cole, grandson; Deven Cole, Byron Cole, Kiefer Cole, and Ryan Baldwin, great-grandsons; Jayson Quinn, family friend; and David Hall.
Memorials may be made to the Donnell Biggers Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Agnes Wright, Delta State Treasurer, 215 Madrid, Universal City, TX 78148-3140 or the charity of your choice.
Ouida was born on April 22, 1922, in the piney woods of Montgomery County, Mississippi. She was the second child born to Thomas Caloway Palmertree and Eva May Bingham Palmertree. Her parents taught her important values such as perseverance through hard work, tenacity to improve, respect for others, pride in her country, and faith in God. She accepted Christ at an early age in the Hebron Baptist Community and was a long time member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa.
Even at an early age, learning and education were important to Ouida. She played guard on the Kilmichael High School girls' basketball team, and they advanced to the state play-offs during her senior year.
On March 18, 1938, two months before Ouida graduated from high school she married Donnell Biggers. They lived in Mississippi until moving to Odessa, Texas, during the early 50's.
After her children began attending school, Ouida enrolled and graduated from Odessa Junior College. Later in 1963 she received a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Sul Ross State University. She earned additional certification from Texas Woman's University.
Ouida began her teaching career in 1956. She taught special education for Odessa Opportunities Center and ECISD until her retirement in 1981.
Ouida had a passion and talent for painting porcelain. She was a member of the Permian Basin Porcelain Art Club and served as president in 1991-92 and in l993-94. She received great pleasure in giving her friends and family gifts of her award winning, hand painted china.
Another great passion of Ouida's was Kappa Kappa Iota. In 1964, she became a charter member of Beta Epsilon Conclave. She served in all offices on the local, state and national levels and numerous state and national committees. In 1978 Ouida was installed as Texas State President and in 1988 as National President.
She was the first recipient of the Texas Kappa Kappa Iota Distinguished Educator Emeritus Award. Texas Kappas affectionately called her Delta State's Yellow Rose and they presented her with a Kappa Life Membership in 1989.
She established the Donnell Biggers Scholarship Fund in memory of her late husband. Scholarships have been awarded to students studying to become educators. Another philanthropic project that Ouida supported included working for abused and neglected children and adults.
Her greatest love was for her family and especially Donnell and their three daughters. They had been married 44 years at the time of his death, November 9, 1982.
Ouida was preceded in death by her husband and parents; a brother and sister; son-in-law, John H. Cole; and granddaughter, Jo Beth Landers Gurr.
She is survived by her three daughters, Charlie Donnita Cole of Odessa, Eva Nell Landers and husband, Donald of Clyde, and Vicki Louise Holland and husband, Dudley, of Lemitar, New Mexico; seven grandchildren: Laura Benbow, Michelle Lambert, John Cole, Donavan Cole, Wade Landers, Jennifer L. Zammeron and Blair Holland; and 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to her family, she is survived by numerous Kappa Kappa Iota sisters and long time friend, Inez Carlton.
Graveside services were held Monday, February 12, 2007, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa; Lonnie Hamil conducted the service.
Pall bearers were John Cole, grandson; Deven Cole, Byron Cole, Kiefer Cole, and Ryan Baldwin, great-grandsons; Jayson Quinn, family friend; and David Hall.
Memorials may be made to the Donnell Biggers Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Agnes Wright, Delta State Treasurer, 215 Madrid, Universal City, TX 78148-3140 or the charity of your choice.
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