Mattie Leona Henderson held out her hand to meet her Lord on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at the Holiday Hill Nursing Home in Coleman at the remarkably age of 100 years.
Private Graveside services will be at the Trickham Cemetery Saturday with Bro David McLean and Rev. Steve McClatchy officiating. Interment will follow with services under the direction of Henderson Funeral Home of Santa Anna.
She was a gentle spirit and sweet lady born to Charlie Talmadge and Daisy Francis Cole McClatchy in Trickham, Texas on January 31, 1920. Leona was raised in Trickham riding a pony with her brother Pete to school at Trickham. Sometimes Uncle Ol Martin would meet them on the road making sure the pony headed in the right direction. As a young girl she fed and took care of the turkeys and when they sold, Pa Tal gave her the profits. She learned responsibility and frugality as she saved her money, and when she had ample funds Pa Tal drove her to Brownwood to buy her new furniture for her bedroom. That furniture now sits in her great granddaughter Lainey’s Bedroom. As a teenager she attended and graduated from Bangs High School Class of 1938, then continuing her education at Daniel Baker College in Brownwood.
On December 18, 1940 she married Pleas Hillburn ‘Mut’ Henderson in Trickham and they celebrated 54 years of marriage. Hilburn preceded her in death in 1995. They farmed and ranched and made Trickham their lifelong home. She was a member of the Trickham Baptist Church, Trickham Quilting Club and Trickham 84 Club. She loved her Trickham Community and friends, and served as a director of the Trickham Cemetery Association. Leona received a plaque for her service and contributions to the Trickham Community.
Everyone loved her cooking and at dinners jockeyed positions for the two iced angel food cokes. In later years she baked her famous sugar cookies for all occasions. She loved helping with the cattle, as Dr. Mike told Donnie, he wished he had her for a wrangler, she could spot a sick cow across the pasture. She always had a large garden, watering, hoeing, canning and freezing for the coming year and for sure lots of tomatoes. Her pleasure was giving from her garden to her many friends in her community.
SURVIVORS
Daughter – Naoma Mae & husband Brent Nichols of Plano, Texas
Daughter-in-law – Christina Henderson of Coleman, Texas
Brother – Joel & wife Diane McClatchy of Frisco, Texas
5 Grandchildren – Wesley Nichols of Carrollton, Texas
Clarissa & husband Mike McElreath of Midland, Texas
Ted Nichols of Wylie, Texas
Rodney & wife Ann Henderson of Hollan, Texas
Candice & husband Greg Mills of Midland, Texas
18 Great Grandchildren – Sabrina, Cole, Austin, Dusty, Bailey & Will, Maycee, Lainey, Adisson, Aleye, Kylee, Abbie, Sydalee, Beckett, Lilian, Mattie Grace, Channing, Hollyn, & Landry
4 Sisters-in-law – LaVerne McClatchy of Trickham, Texas; Wanda Johnson of Burleson, Texas;
Betty Henderson of San Antonio, Texas & Jeanne Henderson of Odessa, Texas
Several Nieces & Nephews
Mattie was preceded in death by her parents; Brother – C T ‘Pete’ McClatchy, Jr.
Son – Donnie Markham Henderson in 2016
Pallbearers
Wesley Nichols, Ted Nichols, Rodney Henderson Dusty Henderson, Mike McElreath, Greg Mills
