Peggy Ann Hughes Paradee

Peggy Ann Hughes Paradee

May 9, 1938 ~ April 8, 2023 (age 84)

Peggy Ann Hughes Paradee, 84, currently of Houston, Texas and a long-time resident of Amarillo, Texas, peacefully joined her Heavenly Father on April 8, 2023.  Visitation will be Thursday, April 13, 2023 at LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Coulter Road from 4-6pm.  Services to celebrate Peggy will be held Friday, April 14, 2023 in LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Coulter Road Chapel with Bishop Wendell Cooper officiating.  Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter Road.

Peggy is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend.  Peggy was born on May 9, 1938 in Roswell, New Mexico to Henry J. Hughes and Alma Grace “Peggy” Stevens.  Peggy was the youngest of five children with brothers Jim and Richard and sisters Jennie Lou and Mardine.  Peggy graduated from Roswell High School in 1956 with honors and graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1961.  Peggy served as president of the Gamma XI Chapter of Delta Zeta and was named to Who’s Who in American Universities.  In 1961, Peggy was the recipient of the Wall Street Journal’s Student Achievement Award and was one of the first females in New Mexico to pass the CPA exam.

Peggy met the love of her life, Larry Paradee, at New Mexico State in 1959 where they enjoyed campus life together and were active in their sororities and fraternities.  In May 1960, Peggy and Larry were Delta Zeta’s Dream Girl and Man.

Peggy married Larry on September 2, 1961 in Roswell, New Mexico. Their wedding was held at the First Methodist Church and was performed by Dr. Austin H. Dillon. Shirley Atchley sang, “I Love You Truly.” After their wedding, Larry and Peggy made their home in El Paso, Texas where they started their careers and family.  Peggy was the school Auditor for El Paso Public Schools and Larry was Senior Engineering Assistant for the Texas Highway Department.  Susan Laureen (Lari) was born on April 2, 1963, a few months before Larry and Peggy moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where Peggy worked for a CPA firm and an insurance company.   Sherron Maureen (Sheri) was born on January 18, 1966 and Craig Maurice followed a few years later on November 17, 1968 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In 1974, Peggy and the children moved to Amarillo, Texas to join Larry who had been transferred from Albuquerque in 1973.  Peggy and Larry enjoyed watching their children grow and develop. They often spent weekends traveling to swim meets throughout Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma as they loved and supported their children in their sports and interests. Peggy enjoyed many weekends visiting her dad, aunt, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews in Roswell, New Mexico.

In addition to raising three children, Peggy had a successful accounting career in Amarillo.   She held management positions at the Whittenburg Law Firm, Western National Bank, Plant Plows and Santa Fe Energy before retiring in the early 1990s.  Peggy served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Western National Bank for 2 years and director of Amarillo Banker’s Wives Club.

In a blink, Lari, Sheri and Craig were off to college and their own careers. Peggy and Larry were proud of them and their choices.

Peggy adored her nieces and nephews - Nanci Sackman, Richard Mays, Robert Mays, Sandy Crane, Steve Hughes, Marcie Wilson, Wendell Cooper, Brian Cooper and Marty Cooper (in memoriam, Eddie Cooper and Diana Woods) and the many grandnieces and grandnephews!  Each of them held a special place in her heart and Peggy proudly displayed photos of them and looked forward to attending their events – especially their weddings!

In retirement, Peggy enjoyed long walks, playing bridge (achieving Life Master) and dominos, joined an investment club, and visiting various courthouses in Texas and New Mexico researching oil and gas royalty interests held by her father.  They traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean and to the east and west coasts of the US and enjoyed visiting their children and grandchildren in Houston, Texas.  In August 2002, Liam Maurice Paradee was born, and you couldn’t have seen two happier grandparents than Peggy and Larry.  In November 2004, Liam was joined by his sister Lola Rose and in August 2007, Mila Olive was born.

In 2016, they sold their home in Amarillo they had lived in for almost 45 years and moved to the Houston, Texas area to be near their children and grandchildren and Peggy successfully beat breast cancer.

After Larry passed away in 2019, Peggy continued her long walks at the independent living complex and enjoyed playing bridge and blackjack and attending church with her family.   Peggy welcomed her fourth grandchild, Robear - adopted by Sheri in August 2020.  Peggy gleamed with pride to see Sheri become a mom.  In 2021, Peggy moved to a memory care facility where she participated in group activities until her passing.

Peggy was known by her family as Mommy, Mom, MoMo, Aunt Bernie, Peggy Ann and Sis.  She was a beautiful soul full of grace, unconditional love, kindness, generosity, gentleness and understanding.  Peggy was a woman of strength, courage, intelligence and patience.  We all love her dearly and will always feel her warm embrace, smile and her enduring love.

Peggy is survived by sisters Mardine Cooper and Jennie Lou Mays, children Lari, Sheri and Craig, and grandchildren Liam, Lola, Mila and Robear.  Peggy is preceded in death by husband Larry Paradee, her father Henry J. Hughes, mother Alma Grace Hughes, and brothers Jim Hughes and Richard Hughes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association in Peggy’s memory at http://www.alzfdn.org