Edile Lightsey

Funeral services for Edile (Lewis) Lightsey, 92, of Caldwell are set for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Caldwell, with Revs. Steve Johnson and Harry Lewis officiating. Interment will follow at Masonic Cemetery. A Prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 26, 2018 at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. Mrs. Lightsey passed from this world on March 24, 2018 at her home in Caldwell.

Edile Lewis was born in the Big Creek Community, January 29, 1926, the only child of Elsie Schoppe and Samuel S. Lewis. When Edile was only three, her father died. Several years later, her mother married Henry F. Struwe and her sister, Eris Lavon “Bonnie” was born.

The first time Delbert D. “Buddy” Lightsey saw Edile was when she was getting her shoes shined and he was getting his boots shined by Jesse “Red” Aldridge at the barber shop in Caldwell. That began a courtship that led to their marriage on February 28, 1943, and they lacked just a few days of celebrating their 74th wedding anniversary when Buddy was tragically killed in an automobile accident, February 10, 2017.

Mrs. Lightsey worked for five years in the Burleson County Tax Office for Ed Varner before she went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture (formerly known as AAA) where she worked for 30 years. She was Chief Clerk in both offices. While working for USDA, she was a member and director of the employee organization called TASCO. She was appointed to go to Washington, D.C. on two occasions to negotiate salaries. She was recognized for Distinguished and Outstanding Service by the National Association of County Office Employees and the Texas Association of County Office Employees where she was also selected as an instructor. In 1982, she established the retirees’ organization for the State of Texas Division of USDA and she was invited to the National Convention to tell how the Texas Chapter was started. She earned many other awards and honors throughout her career.

In addition to being a wife and working full time in her career, she always found time to work in her church, the First Baptist Church of Caldwell. She joined First Baptist Church at age 11 where she has faithfully served since that time. Her faith was always very important to her and she gave freely of her resources as well as her time to her beloved church, where she taught Sunday School in the Junior (Children’s) Department for many years and served on most of the various committees of the church. She rarely missed services until failing health prevented her from attending. She always acknowledged that their financial successes were blessings from God and always wanted to give back in return.

In addition to supporting her local church, she and her husband also supported numerous organizations and donated to many different churches, fire departments, and other places of need, throughout the county. They were big supporters of the Saddle Club and the Arena was named The Buddy and Edile Lightsey Arena in their honor. They donated video equipment to the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office. They were also big financial supporters of First Baptist School, Habitat for Humanity, the City Park, The Masonic Cemetery Association and the Prayer Chapel there, the Cooks Point Community Services, just to name a few. They often bypassed gifts to each other and gave even more to these and other worthy causes.

Mrs. Lightsey was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and the love of her life: Buddy Lightsey; as well as her sister, “Bonnie” Struwe Powell.

She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, a sister-in-law, cousins and other family and friends.

Memorial donations may be given to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 609, Caldwell, Texas 77836 the Masonic Cemetery Association, PO Box 172, Caldwell, Texas 77836, or to the charity of your choice.

To send a flower arrangement to the family of Edile Lightsey , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.