Velma Townsley-Chamblee
Services: Have been held.
Mrs. Velma Townsley-Chamblee, 86, of Portales, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005, at Laurel Ridge Nursing Home in Clovis.
She was born on March 18, 1918, in White County, Ind., to Nina Ruth and Loren F. “Bus” Davis. She grew up on a farm in White County, Ind. She met Merrill E. Townsley in Montecello, Ind., and they married on March 8, 1942. They made their home in Lafayette, Ind., for many years. During that time she was employed as a cashier at a grocery store. When she was no longer able to work due to arthritis, she retired. Shortly after her retirement, they moved to Denver in 1970. In 1975 they came to Portales to make their home. She married Alfred Chamblee in Friona, Texas, in 1991. For most of her life, she was a member of the Baptist Church. In recent years, she became a member of the Church of Christ. Family members said she loved to sew, and was very talented, and she also enjoyed working crossword puzzles.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents; a brother, Leon F. Davis; a daughter, Bonita “Bonnie” Burget; two grandchildren; and her first husband, Merrill E. Townsley.
Survivors include her husband, Alfred Chamblee of Portales; three sons, Gary E. Townsley of Portales, Pat A. Townsley of Lafayette, and Loren E. “Easy” Townsley (and wife, MiCha) of Aurora, Colo.; two daughters, Sue D. White of Chicago and Sandra R. Simensen (Tom) of Portales; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Bernadine Davis of Lafayette; and a brother-in-law, Carl Burget of McCalla, Ala.
Bill Wallace will officiate the services.
Memorial Contributions may be made to either the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the American Heart Association.
Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.
