Armenda Jane Henderson Boothe

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Armenda Jane Henderson Boothe (better known as Mimi by her grandchildren) passed away on Jan. 18. She was born on June 15, 1927, the second of four children born to Morgan Barry Henderson and Gladys Mae Henderson of Longview, Texas.

Jane was a graduate of Judson High School in Longview class of 1944. She attended Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas and graduated with a B.S. degree in Journalism and Advertising in 1948. While a senior at TWU she was elected the editor of the college yearbook and produced the 1948 college annual. She later attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College (Texas State) for a teaching certificate in 1958. She would go on to become an elementary teacher for 27 years in the Gonzales Independent School District teaching second grade.

On Nov. 26, 1949, Jane married William Henry Boothe Jr. of Gonzales. They were married for 62 years. They would later have twin sons-Billy and Barry Boothe.

While teaching was the love of her life, Jane was very involved in her community. She became a member of the First United Methodist Church in 1950 and served in several capacities. She held the position of Memorial Chairman for 16 plus years, was a member of the Parsonage Committee for many years, and kept records for it. She was also a member of the Lenore Boothe Circle.

Jane joined the Gonzales Sesame Study Club in 1950 where she served as president as well as serving in other offices. Sesame Study Club was started in 1929 for the advancement of education for women. In 1973, Sesame sponsored a project to provide library services for the community. Jane served as organizing president of Friends of the Library and was an active member for 33 years. She also served as president of Friends of the Library. With the efforts of the Sesame Club and the Friends of the Library the Gonzales Public Library came into existence. She served as Chairman of the Board and other offices for the Gonzales Library from 1985 to 1999. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Another passion of Jane’s was genealogy. She joined the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1946 because of the interest she had in her paternal grandmother. She actively pursued many lines in the family connections.

Jane loved reading and always tried to promote it. She loved to read and read at least one book per week on her “nook” as well as the Readers Digest where she enjoyed the crossword puzzles.

As a little girl, Jane would climb up in a tree to get away from the world so she could read.

Jane is survived by her two sons, William H. Boothe IV, (Billy) and wife Sue, Morgan Barry Boothe, (Barry) and wife Lauren. One sister and brother-in-law, Ruthie and George Hastie of Longview, four grandchildren, Missy Collura and husband Gary of The Woodlands, Allison Davis and husband Dean of Gonzales, Krista Keefe and husband Nick of Spring and Morgan Barry Boothe Jr. and companion Jennifer Ervin and her son Layton Ervin, eight great grand-children, Cade Davis, Kaylee and Ty Collura, Carson, Clay and Kinley Keefe, and Cole and Morgan Boothe and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Morgan Barry Henderson Jr., and her sister, Alice Elizabeth Grimes. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, or Gonzales Public Library. The family received friends on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Seydler Hill Funeral Home Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, Seydler Hill, with Matt Pennington and Eradio Valverde officiating burial will follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery Pallbearers will be: Morgan Barry Boothe Jr., Dean Davis, Cade Davis, Gary Collura, Nick Keefe, John Boothe, Rob Wilson and David Hastie and Danny Hastie. The family would like to thank Mimi’s special friends for taking such good care of her- Elisa De Luna, Carolina Ontiveros, Claudine Adams and Virginia Garcia, special friends: Elisa De Luna, Carolina Ontiveros and Claudine Adams.

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