Vera Louise Levacy

Vera Louise Levacy passed away from ALS early Friday morning, August 24. Since being diagnosed in October 2015, she maintained a positive attitude, offering her wonderful smile to all with whom she came in contact, even as her body continued to give up on her. She was born on September 22, 1946 in Salem, Illinois in the family home to parents Violet Vera (Henson) Ashley and Irvan Homer Ashley. When Vera was 9, her family moved to Lamesa, Texas, where she eventually met her future husband, John Henry Levacy, Jr., also of Lamesa. They were married on July 9, 1965, the summer before Vera’s senior year. She graduated from Lamesa High School in 1966. Vera was about three main things: her family, helping others, and having fun no matter her circumstances. She was the P.T.A. mother and T-ball coach, the museum docent and the volunteer willing to do the non-glamorous tasks like kitchen clean-up and lemonade sales. She could be found working hard at the Ranching Heritage Center and National Cowboy Symposium, where she volunteered for more than 25 years. If Vera wasn’t taking care of her family or helping out as a volunteer, she might be found at one of her favorite vacation destinations. She loved roller coasters, the faster and loopier the better. Any chance she had to go to DisneyWorld or DisneyLand, she jumped at the opportunity. In later years, she also enjoyed the long drive to Vegas with her husband John, where she would play her favorite penny and nickel slots. Museums, zoos, and our National Parks were also among her favorite places to enjoy special times with her family. Vera never met a stranger. Even after discovering the man on the other end of the phone line was not her grandfather as she’d first thought one afternoon, she spent another hour or more talking to a new friend. She was known by many restaurant employees on sight, since enjoying good food was another of her favorite pastimes. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Vera to jump up and help clear tables when one of her more frequented lunch spots got too busy. Vera will be remembered at a special MEMORIES SERVICE at Sanders Funeral Home in Lubbock, Texas on September 1 at 2:30 pm. Because Vera was always about making people feel comfortable and contagious in her sense of fun, please feel free to come in casual wear or traditional attire, whatever makes you feel best. Family and guests will be sharing their memories about Vera, as well as having a little bit of the more traditional activities. The family plans on purchasing an electric patient lift for other families in the West Texas area because the one they were able to borrow was such a blessing. In lieu of flowers, they'd appreciate donations to this cause. Those wishing to contribute may visit the Go Fund Me link provided below, or the family will have a Go Fund Me box at the service. The link to the Vera Levacy Memorial ALS Fund is: https://www.gofundme.com/vera-levacy-memorial-als-fund Vera is preceded in death by her father Irvan and mother Violet. She is survived by her husband, John and daughters and sons-in-law Ramona and John Billingslea of Spring, TX and Kimberley and John Henson of Abilene, TX. She is also survived by her sisters Alice Kidd of Lamesa, TX, Linda Wyse of Manteca, CA, Lena Scott of Hallettsville, TX, and brothers Irvan Ashley of Staunton, IL and Garland Ashley of Lathrop, MO.

Vera Louise Levacy

September 22, 1946 - August 24, 2018