Bennye C. Cummings, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 in Ennis, Texas where she has lived for the last few years. She was born at home in Twitty, Texas near Wheeler on April 13, 1926. She lived in Raton, New Mexico from 1960 -2004. She has also lived in Amarillo, TX, Green River, WY and Ennis, TX. Her parents, Kay Theodore Gulley and Mary Agnes Wegner Gulley, lived in Mills, New Mexico and then settled in Aberdeen, TX where they farmed cotton. They had four children: Bennye, Joan, Vonita, Donita and Kay Theodore Jr.
Bennye married Donald Paul Cummings on June 5, 1947 in Amarillo, TX. They met at a soda shop in Canon, TX where Bennye liked to dance to the juke box. They had four children: Paula Ann Cummings-Frey (Green River, WY), Thomas Michael Cummings (Raton, NM), Patrick Noel Cummings (Ennis, TX), and Donald Paul Jr. (Deceased). Bennye has 13 Grandchildren and 18 Great-Grandchildren.
Bennye went to school in a one room schoolhouse with grades one through twelve. The children helped one another while the teacher worked with the other grade levels. She rode to school on a horse or her dad took her and her siblings in a wagon. Later her parents purchased a Model A Ford to make trips to town and school.
Bennye graduated from West Texas State University with an Elementary Education degree. She was a well-loved teacher in the Raton area. She taught at Alice Landergen Elementary School in Amarillo, TX, Columbian School and Raton Catholic School in Raton, NM. She worked as a volunteer at Longfellow Elementary School after her retirement. Bennye was very active in the Raton community. She was a tutor in the Literacy Program, volunteered for Child Abuse Prevention and was on the Citizens Review Board for foster children.
Bennye was a master at balancing work and family. She taught school until she was 68 years old. Every morning she fixed a hot breakfast and every evening she prepared a nourishing homemade supper. She planned the meals and made her grocery list on Thursday night so she could shop after school on Friday. She cleaned on Saturdays and somehow kept the house looking great all week. The family went to church on Sundays, but she didn’t get a break. The family always came home to a delicious dinner she prepared before church and kept it in the oven.
Bennye was a devout Christian. She started Bible studies at the Mansface Apartments in Wyoming and at the Oak Timbers Apartments in Texas where she lived. She loved Sunday school and made many close friendships at church. She was active in Christian Women’s Club and accompanied her daughter when she spoke for this Christian organization in several states.
Bennye loved all of her family and went to sleep each night praying for them. Even though she worked hard in her career she always made an effort to spend time with her friends and family. She was always there whenever anyone needed her.
We will all miss her with all our hearts and will cherish all she taught us and the time we had with her. Even though she is gone her memory will live on in all our hearts forever.
The funeral is scheduled for Thursday, October 3 at the First Baptist Church in Raton, NM at 11:00 AM followed by a short graveside ceremony at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Lunch will be served at the First Baptist Church after the graveside ceremony. Friends and family are welcome.
Arrangement for Bennye C. Cummings are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home
