Jessie Elma Cudlipp Alexander

We celebrate the life of Jessie Elma Cudlipp Alexander, who loved Lufkin and who with her late husband, Clarence Willard “Lefty” Alexander, chose to live her life here in the beauty of East Texas, devoted to her family, her wonderful parents, her many many friends, her church and the community.

Born May 12, 1919 in Houston, Jessie Elma arrived in Lufkin three weeks later on the Southern Pacific Train with her mother, the late Jessie Baker Cudlipp, and father, the late Albert Ernest Cudlipp, Sr., who had been with Kirbyville Lumber Company. Al came highly recommended to Mr. W.C. Trout, who persuaded young Cudlipp to join him in expanding Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company. In the next few years, the company expanded into manufacturing of oilfield equipment and entering the truck trailer and industrial gear markets. Al Cudlipp became Vice President and a Director of the company, now Lufkin Industries, and actively served his industry and community as President or Founding President or on the Board of local, state and national organizations, including: Texas A&M University (two six-year terms), Federal Reserve Board Bank Houston Branch, Memorial Hospital (founding board), Lufkin Rotary Club (founding president), Lufkin Country Club (president), Rotary International, East Texas Boy Scout Council (founding leadership), Lay Reader, St. Cyprian’s as it found a new minister, and President of the American Trucking Association, Texas Manufacturers Association, Texas Motor Transportation Association.

The Cudlipp home was a happy home, right across the street from the Trout family on Jefferson Avenue, then for thirty eight years on Pershing Avenue, near downtown Lufkin.

Jessie Elma loved and adored her mother, a true Southern gracious woman born on a plantation, who loved to cook and sew and dote on her family, giving them a good home life that included wonderful times growing up in a household that included Grandmother Baker and Aunt Mattie. Elma loved and adored her father, who loved to take the family picnicking and to the beach crabbing in Galveston, built her a swing set and sandbox and created many fascinating times together. “Where is Elma!!??” often rang in slight alarm at the Cudlipp household, well, always, she had just slipped off to visit a neighbor, or, one day, went home with the ice man to see cute little newborn puppies under his house. Al had to climb under the house to get her out, with her arms loaded with the puppies.

The Cudlipp Family loved St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. “Always attend” if you are invited to a meeting or gathering to show appreciation for the preparations that went into it, she was taught. Elma received perfect attendance pin for Sunday School and Church, and instilled this loyalty in her family for the rest of her life. Participate, enjoy, circulate!

In 1936, she stepped away from Lufkin to attend Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where she met the Captain of the Team and Most Valuable Player “for life”, Lefty Alexander, center, for the Horned Frogs, who in 1938, her junior year, were National Champions. They married soon after graduating and became part of The Greatest Generation, with Lefty leaving a coaching job to enlist in the US Navy following Pearl Harbor and to attend Annapolis Naval Academy officer training before serving on-board ship in the Pacific during World War II.

They enjoyed almost fifty years of marriage, with a life centered around their three girls, Clarice, Mary Ellen and Jayne, the joys of grandchildren, now great grandchildren, cherished friendships, a devotion to St. Cyprian’s and the community, and Lefty’s career with Lufkin Industries where he served as Vice President and later with Trailmobile Pullman Corporation, officing in Dallas and Chicago. Together, they derived great pleasure from Lefty’s business life, developing lifelong friends in business while he gave stellar national leadership to his industry with Elma by his side. They believed in enjoyment of life, but never excesses. They prayed and believed. “Be still and know that I am God” is framed in the den alongside wedding pictures of their beloved children. Early years in the Alexander Home were strengthened by the refinement and daily love of Olllie Beatrice Scott. To plan for retirement, they found a beautiful point jutting out into Lake Rayburn, making it their Golden Pond for twenty years.

Throughout her life, Elma was interested in the people who formed Lufkin, grew Lufkin, contributed to the civic and social well-being of Lufkin, and who loved it all as she did. She expressed this through attending Panther games, First Friday luncheons, DAR (Regent), Colonial Dames, Museum of East Texas Guild, Lufkin Service League then Junior League Emeritus Member, Rotary Anns, The Cotillion, Slipper Club, Crown Colony Country Club (charter member), ladies golf, bridge groups … and lots of dancing.

Funeral services for Jessie Elma Cudlipp Alexander, 94, will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church with The Rev. Art Callaham officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

The Family would like to especially thank Pinecrest and Hospice in the Pines for their exceptional care and love and spiritual sustenance.

Survivors include her three daughters and their husbands, Clarice Pasierb of Dallas, Mary Ellen and Roger Borgelt of Austin, and Jayne and Paul McCurry of Lufkin; grandchildren and their spouses, Elizabeth McCurry Mufich and Martin Mufich of Austin, George Austin McCurry and Kelly McCurry of Katy, Jessica Whiteker Bargenquest and Kirk Bargenquest of Dallas, and Jeremy Alexander Whiteker of Dallas; great grandchildren, Ellery Jayne Mufich, Luke James, Zachary Will and Chloe Claire Bargenquest; first cousins, Ralph Lang of Midland and Jack Baker of Navasota; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Mrs. Alexander was preceded in death also by her sister, Mary Elizabeth Cudlipp Snelson, and brother, Albert Ernest Cudlipp, Jr.

Pallbearers will be Roger Borgelt, Paul McCurry, Ralph Lang, George Austin McCurry, Jeremy Alexander Whiteker, Martin Mufich, and Kirk Bargenquest.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Tucker, Tommy Thompson, Philip Arnett, Martin Lee Evans, Charles Evans, Pete Peterson, Joe Denman, George Clarke and Lynn Lentz.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, 919 S. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, Texas 75904; to Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Ave., Lufkin, Texas 75904; or to Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297044, Fort Worth, Texas 76129.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday afternoon at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors