Dateline: August 10, 2006

Ailene Rhodes McElroy, 89 died August 4, 2006 in Clarendon.

Services were at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Kent McElroy, son, and Rev. Larry White, of Amarillo, officiating. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Ailene “Neenie” was born November 6, 1916, in Brice, Texas to John Wesley Rhodes and Oda Pearl Lewis Rhodes. She was the fourth of eight daughters. She graduated from Clarendon High School in 1935. She married Arlington Wayne McElroy on July 19, 1941, at Junction City, Kansas. She had been a resident of Clarendon and Donley County all of her life. She graduated from Amarillo Beauty College and worked as a beautician for 30 years before working along side her husband at Heath’s Furniture store. She then worked as the Women’s Ready to Wear Manager for Green’s Dry Goods for 27 years until her retirement in 1991. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon and Joy Fidelius Sunday School Class. She was a lover of Christ and a lover of people.

Mrs. McElroy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on June 25, 1982; and four sisters, Mattie Chamberlain, Ruth Riley, Dorothy Adamson, and Irene Jones.

She is survived by 3 sons: Jack McElroy and wife Sheila of Longview, Jimmy McElroy of Amarillo, and Rev. Kent McElroy and wife Elizabeth of Colorado Springs, CO; 3 sisters: Jewell Stewart and Betty McElroy of Amarillo, and Johnnie Adamson of Bakersfield, California; 1 grandchild Ashley McElroy Parsons and husband Jeremy; 2 step-grandchildren: Tom Lowe and wife Cindy and Hollie Glover and husband Joey; 2 great grandsons: Micah and Tyler Parsons; 2 step-great grandchildren: Joanna Glover and Sean Lowe; many nieces and nephews and one close family friend, Priscilla Boone of Clarendon.

The family requests memorials be to the First Baptist Church in Clarendon or to the Citizens Cemetery Association.