Kathryn Jefferson Gromowsky, 86, was freed from her earthly confines and mortal body on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. A Celebration of Life Service was held at 11:00 AM Friday, October 8, 2021 at the 6th St. Church of Christ in Friona with Mike Prather and Jeff Procter officiating. A private family burial was held Friday afternoon in the Bovina Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Born August 20, 1935, in Bovina, Texas to Charles and Lorene Jefferson, Kathryn was by all accounts a precocious - if not sometimes ornery - child. Her sister and she would later reminisce that she was a female Dennis the Menace. In 1950, she met a lanky vagabond, locally and affectionately nicknamed 'Polack', from St. Joseph, Missouri. William was part of a travelling work crew in town working on construction of Bovina's Shirley-Anderson grain elevator. They were married in October of 1951, and their young family quickly grew with the birth of Jan, followed by William, Jr. "Widdy", and finally Jyl. They made their first home in Bovina. William worked at Triplett Cattle Co. and in 1953 Kathryn took a job as a switch board operator with Southwestern Bell Telephone in Clovis, NM. At the time of her retirement in 1974, she was administrative assistant to the head of operations.
In 1962 William and Kathryn began farming east of Bovina, and in 1963 they moved their family out to the land they farmed near Hub, where they lived and were fixtures in the Hub community. Their transition to the occupation of farming was truly, in every sense of the word, a partnership. There was not an acre planted, a row harvested, or a cow bought and sold that Kathryn didn't have an entry for on her hand-kept green ledgers. Every corporation needs a keen and savvy CFO, and Kathryn capably filled that role.
Kathryn and William were active leaders at the Bovina Church of Christ. They served the congregation in thankless roles too numerous to mention - but many may remember most vividly that they jointly counted and accounted for the collection plates each week.
In 2004 they retired from farming and moved to Friona. In her new-found "spare" time, Kathryn began working again, first with Hi-Pro Feeds, and then as a bookkeeper and helping prepare income taxes for Sandra Johnson, CPA, where she never met a stranger. They were faithful members of Sixth Street Church of Christ in Friona. She and William often opened their warm and welcoming home for numerous dinner parties, hosting both church and community friends. Kathryn had a special place in her heart for young couples just beginning their lives together in her small town. She and William befriended many young families who were taking their first steps onto the path they began as husband and wife this very week, seven decades ago.
She was preceded in death, in 1944, by her sister Betty; and later, her parents; and a great-granddaughter, Sayge Massie.
She is survived by her husband, William; daughter Jan Smith and husband Steve of Sudan, son William and wife Christy of Amarillo, daughter Jyl Grimsley and husband Jayson of Friona; and her sister Sondra Green of Wheatridge, CO. She will be remembered with abounding love as 'MeMe' to eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, ten brothers & sisters-in-law, dozens of nieces & nephews, and countless kids & adults who she 'loved' on every chance she got.
The family would like to say a special thank you to the nurses, attendants, and staff of the Prairie Acres Nursing Home who have so lovingly walked the journey alongside us during the last months and days of our MeMe's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Prairie Acres Rehab and Nursing, 201 East 15th Street, Friona, Texas 79035, or Bluebonnet Home Health & Hospice, 304 East 11th Street, Friona, Texas 79035.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online guest book at: hansardfamily.com