Hettie Rowland

On June 21, 2015 Hettie Lois Mills Rowland answered the call of her Lord to lay down her burdens and join Him in Heaven. Funeral services at Highland Baptist church of Lubbock will be on Saturday June 27, 2015 at 2pm followed by interment at Rest Haven Cemetery, Lubbock. Pallbearers are .....tbd.... with granddaughter Angela Smith paying tribute to her beloved Nana as Honorary Pallbearer. Visitation for friends and family will be Friday, June 26 from 6-8pm at Sanders Funeral Home 1420 Main Street. Hettie, 93, was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to C.E. Mills and Pearl Scott Mills on Oct. 1, 1921. She was the only child of this marriage although there were several sisters and a brother in the home. During 1935, Hettie moved with her parents to Albany, TX, where she was enrolled in Albany High School as a freshman. Following graduation, Hettie enrolled in Draughon's Business College in Abilene. She proudly achieved the speed of 120 words per minute in shorthand. It was during the time Hettie was attending business school that she met a young motorcycle patrolman stationed in Abilene. T.A. was the official who gave Hettie her driving test so she could become a licensed driver. T.A. and Hettie were married two years later on Feb. 21, 1943. World War II brought travel, marriage and separation as Hettie followed T.A. to Louisville, KY where T.A. was stationed with the Coast Guard. Hettie soon found employment in a furniture factory converted into a munition factory where she was a personal secretary to the production manager. Hettie stayed in Louisville when T.A. was transferred to the San Francisco Lifeboat Station where he served in a law enforcement capacity. During later days of WWII Hettie moved to Austin, TX and lived with T.A.'s brother and family. As a young married woman Hettie became an important part of the Rowland household when her niece was born. Saturday nights involved dancing with her niece to the music of the radio. "Dance with me Punkin Hettie" was the phrase most heard. At the conclusion of WWII Hettie and T.A. returned to law enforcement in Lubbock. Hettie's office skills were put to use in her job with a local attorney. When T.A. was transferred to the newly opened DPS station in Morton in 1948, Hettie eagerly took up her position as housewife as she joined the community. Hettie and T.A. had two children, Gail and Travis. With the arrival of her children Hettie devoted countless hours to the well-being of her family. She found spare time to tailor her own clothing using techniques of professional dressmakers taught to her by her own mother. Gail always had unique outfits from her sewing machine. Hettie was a superb cook who managed to run her home on a limited budget. Hettie was volunteered by her children many times during their school years to supply baked goods for a class party or as chaperone on a bus trip. Hettie was a group leader when Gail became a Blue Bird and again as a Camp Fire Girl. When Travis joined Cub Scouts, she served as a Den Mother. During the 1950's and 1960's in Morton, Hettie was a member and past president of the L'allegro Study Club. She also served in numerous offices in the Morton Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star. Hettie proudly served as Worthy Matron in 1966-67. Hettie was awarded her 50 year membership to Eastern Star in 2010. Hettie shared her smile with hundreds of people in Cochran county during the many years she was employed in the county tax office as chief deputy. Hettie relished her retirement following a move to Lubbock in 1982 where she entertained her three grandchildren, played bridge with Metropolitan Bridge Club and spent many hours at the YWCA. As a member of the Y, Hettie became a swimmer achieving her advanced certification. Her church life at Highland Baptist encompassed social times with Three R's and many performances with the King's Choir. Hettie was an active member of the Rachel Sunday School class where she formed many long-term friendships. Hettie was a diligent researcher in the library where she tracked down elusive family connecting her to several Revolutionary War soldiers. This work allowed her to be admitted into the Nancy Anderson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Many evening were filled with Hettie's fingers busily working to crochet decorative items for each of her three grandchildren and two great granddaughters. Hettie's sense of humor carried her through several chronic illnesses, multiple heart attacks and the long farewell of Alzeheimers. She leaves behind her two children: Gail Rowland (New) of Leander, TX and Travis G. Rowland of Lubbock; grandchildren: Thomas New (Carolyn) of Georgetown, TX, Angela Rowland Smith (Mike) of Lubbock and Jeffrey Rowland (Sara) of Midland, TX; and great-granddaughters: Emily New of Georgetown, TX and Kari Enos of Lubbock. The family expresses their thanks to Senior House Calls (Texas Tech University) and Gentiva Hospice.

Hettie Rowland

October 1, 1921 - June 21, 2015