Jimmie Gomez

Jimmie Carole Pitman Gomez of Abilene died Tuesday, Dec. 6, in Amarillo surrounded by her family. She was 71.

A service celebrating her life is planned for 2 p.m., Saturday at Highland Church of Christ in Abilene where she and her family have worshiped and served for many years under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors. Dr. Lynn Anderson, former Highland minister and the father-in-law of her second daughter, will preside. Burial will be in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories. No family visitation is planned.

Jimmie was born May 17, 1940, in Childress to Joe and Louise Pitman, the second of their three children. She grew up in Dallas where she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, attending North Texas State University in 1959-60 before transferring to then Abilene Christian College for two years. She would re-enroll many years later in 1983, attending part-time until she completed her B.S. in sociology in 1994.

While still at NTSU, she was introduced by friends to Bob V. Gomez, then a student at Texas A&M. They married in Dallas on Jan. 29, 1962, and together they traveled, served in communities and churches, raised three daughters and adored eight grandchildren.

As a child Jimmie faced polio at age 11. As a young wife and mother she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease at age 29. Both complicated her health throughout her life, but her own struggles endowed her with great empathy for the sick and hurting. She made an extra effort to reach out to those who were ill, in pain or suffering from long-term illnesses just as she did. In recent years when her health made it difficult for her to serve outside her home her passion was her phone ministry; she began every day by calling members of Highland church on special days or after deaths, births or illnesses, working from the church calendar and a special notebook of numbers and names.

As a family, the Gomezes lived in Dallas where Gina, Joanna and Lisa were born, in Houston where they moved while she underwent treatment at M.D. Anderson, in Austin where the girls grew up, and for the last 30 years in Abilene. During the years Bob worked for Braniff Airlines they lived in Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit and Acapulco, Mexico.

From 1983-1994 Jimmie worked at ACU in student services, as chapel secretary and in the clinic. In each role she was sought out by ACU students who needed a mother or mentor, and she counseled them through the ups and downs of college life. She sponsored Tri Kappa women’s social club, was active in the American Business Women’s Association and served in many ministries at Hillcrest Church of Christ and Highland Church of Christ, focusing on the youth ministries while her girls were younger and later a prison ministry with Bob. A small prayer group met weekly in her home for 10 years.

She was a writer, seamstress, and the artistic creator of many special events for her family. Her humor and sparkle encouraged everyone to look beyond the day’s difficulties to life’s blessings. Her strength and determination far exceeded her illness and limitations.

She is survived by her husband Bob and their three daughters and their families: Gina and Russell Harrison of San Antonio and their children Hunter, Marshall and Kennedy; Joanna and Jon Anderson of San Antonio and their children Abby, Connor and Ana.; Lisa and Dan Powell of Pampa and their children Gabrielle and Landon. She is also survived by her sister June Pitman Hardin of Galveston, and her brother Joe Scott Pitman of Wills Point.

Those wishing to honor Jimmie’s memory may make donations to the Medical Center League House, 7000 Amarillo Blvd West, Amarillo, TX 79106. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.