Obituaries

Elizabeth Jane Mills Lanham, 97, passed away April 26, 2021 in Weatherford. Elizabeth was born in Sheffield, Alabama, on February 19, 1924, the only child of Oscar D. and Mary Hazen Mills. She attended St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Sheffield and St. Agnes Academy in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Sheffield High School in 1941 and then attended Auburn University. Elizabeth married Wayne Houston Lanham of Cresson, TX (who was stationed on the Tennessee River serving in the U.S. Coast Guard) on September 13, 1943 in Sheffield. They are the parents of four sons; Wayne, Jr. (Pat), James Gregory, Lance Mills and Paul Bert Lanham. After World War II, when Wayne returned from overseas duty, they moved to Stephenville where Wayne attended Tarleton and she worked for the Extension Service. They then moved to College Staton where Wayne graduated from Texas A&M and she worked for the A&M Horticulture Department. They moved to Huntsville where she and Wayne both worked for the prison system. Elizabeth later worked for the Texas Department of Public Welfare. After a year and a half Wayne was employed by the U.S Soil Conservation Service in Groesbeck where they lived for 21 years. He was transferred to Gatesville in 1972. She worked for the Gatesville Elementay School for many years as the principal’s secretary. Elizabeth was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gatesville where she served as the religious education teacher for many years as well as in Mexia. She was the religious coordinator for 3 years retiring in 1995. On June 8, 2005, Elizabeth received the Lumen Gentium (Light of the World) Award from Bishop Gregory M. Aymond, of the Catholic Diocese of Austin, after being nominated in recognition of her effort for the Catholic Church. She was on the Gatesville Care Center Board where she was presently acting as secretary. Elizabeth was on the Coryell Hospital Auxiliary Board and accrued well over 1000 hours making her a life member of the Coryell Memorial Volunteers. She also volunteered at the Coryell County Museum. As a member of the Morris Federation, Elizabeth served as secretary from 1998-2000, again from 2004-2006 and First Vice-President in 2008. She was also a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association where she served as secretary from 1999-2004. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, in 1998. She is survived by her sons; Pat and wife, Pam of Fort Worth, Greg and wife, Karen of Gainesville, Lance and wife, Lynda and Paul and wife, Cindy of Houston. Her granddaughter Kristi and grandsons Kevin, Luke, John, Chris, Caleb, Collin and Duncan Lanham.