- Date Of Birth: December 29, 1928
- Date Of Death: June 26, 2021
- State: New Mexico
In her own words: Myrna Loy Saunders Qualls was born in Loraine, Mitchell County, Texas on December 29, 1928 to John Omer Saunders and Bessie Alma Porter Saunders. Grew up in Roscoe, Nolan County, Texas where I was valedictorian of my senior class in 1946. During my high school years, I was pianist for the choral department, which performed seasonal musicals. Also served on the annual committee.
Since World War II ended just as my class entered high school, we put out the first annual allowed after paper shortages forced cancellation of such activities during the war years. Was a member of the Roscoe girls’ volleyball team who won District in 1946 after defeating the Merkel girls’ team. I was the first person in my extended family privileged to attend college. Attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas 1946-1948 and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Secretarial Science degree from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas in 1950.
Married Billie Qualls on September 8, 1951, in Roscoe, Texas, becoming a member of a large family who embraced me and our three children when Bill died in an automobile accident on July 3, 1960. I enjoyed many years of close relationships with my mother-in-law and seven of Bill’s siblings and their spouses. I am the last survivor of the children and spouses of Walter and Ida Qualls. Bill, a World War II Army veteran, worked as a construction millwright and we moved 19 times during the first four years of our marriage. We settled in Roswell, New Mexico in June of 1955.
Enjoyed singing in sanctuary choirs throughout high school and young adulthood. Am currently a member of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. I’m very proud of my children who are good citizens who care about each other and are always willing to give of their time and resources to make others’ lives better. We’ve shared many happy holidays and vacations with each other and our extended families.
My children are Phyllis Elaine Qualls of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Richard Carr Qualls and his wife Jamie Leigh of Kingston Oklahoma. My grandsons are Patrick Cole Qualls and his wife, Jessica, Matthew Porter Qualls, all of Midland, Texas and Richard Parry Qualls and his wife, Bailey, of Johnson City, Tennessee. My great-granddaughters are Alec O’Brien Qualls, Madison Avery Qualls, Amelia Kay Qualls, and Lindsey Abbigail Myers. My great-grandsons are Paxton Corban Qualls and Wyatt Turner Qualls. I have numerous Saunders, Porter and Qualls nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceded in death by husband, Bill, son John Walter Qualls, parents J.O. and Bess Saunders, sister Vanice Marlene Saunders and grandparents L.N. and Lillie Saunders and Jim and Madie Porter.
