Obituary

Funeral services for Gloria Jean Tunnell, 76, will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, in First Baptist Church Sanctuary in Plainview with Dr. Travis Hart, pastor, officiating and Norman Wright assisting. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Mrs. Tunnell died at 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, in Covenant Hospital Plainview. She was born Jan. 18, 1929, to Patrick D. Blackburn and Effie Cook Blackburn at Eldorado, Ark. She graduated from Baylor University. She was a member Athenian Club that later became the Tri-Delts. After college, she worked for the draft board and taught school for a few years before becoming a mother. She married Graddy Tunnell on Nov. 25, 1950, in Dallas. Gloria enjoyed traveling. She loved whales, elephants, roll-a-coasters and bagpipes. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Corkie Terrell's Sunday school class, P.E.O., Gamma Delphin Study Club and Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a past president and lifetime member of the P.T.A. Mrs. Tunnell is survived by her husband; three sons and daughters-in-law, Richard Lynn and Anne Tunnell of Denver, Colo., Jeffrey Dee and Marijo Strother Tunnell of Plainview and Lindsey Graddy and Susan Janette Tunnell of Centennial, Colo.; one brother, Patrick Dee Blackburn of Abilene, Texas; and four grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth Tunnell and Natalie Claire Tunnell of Plainview, Christopher Lynn Tunnell of Denver, Colo., and Keland Walker Tunnell of Centennial, Colo. She is also survived by her caregivers, Pat Jackson, Brenda Hawthorne and Stella Flores. She was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick D. and Effie Cook Blackburn. The family suggests memorials to Alzheimer's Association, 4400 N. Big Spring, Midland, TX 79705.