Wanda Inez “Sunshine” Richards Underwood Spivey, 97, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, in Kerrville, Texas. Services were held March 29 at Kerrville First United Methodist Church in Kerrville, Texas, officiated by Rev. Phillip Hoeflinger. Services will also be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at the First Southern Baptist Church in Holbrook, officiated by Rev. Robert Seymour. Interment will follow in the Holbrook Cemetery.
She was born in Benton, Ark., to Floyd Harrison Richards and Fannie Hutchenson Richards on Aug. 15, 1917.
She attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she was named “Who’s Who in College of Agriculture” in 1940. She was active in Zeta Tau Alpha. In 1941, she became Monroe County Home Demonstration Agent and in 1943, the Lee County Home Demonstration Agent.
She was married to the love of her life, Amos Harvey Underwood from Piggott, Ark., in 1942 to the time of his passing in 1972. They moved their growing family to Arizona in 1952.
From 1957 to 1977, she taught at Holbrook High School, where she touched the lives of many students in a masterful and meaningful way. During this time, she was on the UofA North Central Eval Team, a delegate for an in-service seminar in Washington, D.C., and a Robert Taft Seminar recipient.
She married William “Bill” F. Spivey on Aug. 27, 1977, in Holbrook at the First Baptist Church, which was officiated by family friend Reverend George Webb.
They resided in Little Rock, Ark., where Bill nicknamed her “Sunshine” for her amazing smile and spirit. They were enthusiastic members of the Razorback Booster Club, and Sunshine became the best “Hog Caller” in the state and always received major attention wherever she went. They attended Pulaski Heights Methodist Church, where she served as Adult Sunday School teacher, chaired the Society of Saint Stephan for two years and was an ambassador with Billy Graham Crusades. Bill was a kind, gentle and loving soul who passed away in February 1990.
In 1993, Sunshine moved to Kerrville to be close to daughter Susi and husband Ron, who contributed immensely to her care and happiness. She purchased a beautiful home in Vicksburg Village and settled into a busy community life. From 1993 to 2015, she was a member of First Methodist Church, where she served as president of 21st Century Sunday School class. She was also a Steven minister and a member of the Emmaus Community. In 2010, she became a reserve officer with the Kerrville Police Department and reigned as honorary queen on their Christmas Parade float.
In addition to husbands Amos and Bill, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Sally, Charles and Mary Ann; and precious grandsons, Sky Blu and Casey Holland Underwood.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Richard Underwood, Cliff and Deborah Crozier Underwood, Robert and Deborah Thomas Underwood, Charles and Ginger Underwood, Ron and Susi Underwood Bell, Don and Judy Spivey, and David and Sandy Spivey; her sister-in-law, Mary Evelyn Browning; her grandchildren and their spouses, Scott and Jackie Underwood, Bo and Stacy Underwood, Shay Underwood, Matthew and Poppy Underwood Harrison, April and Bryan Hodges, Amos Underwood, Erica Porter Underwood, Mike Spivey, Kim Spivey, Andy and Cathy Meyer, Matthew and Claudia Spivey, and Samantha and Jason Davenport; her great-grandchildren, Dakota Underwood, Dylan Underwood, Dixie Lynn Hannah, Sky Blu Underwood, Jordan Underwood, Porter Underwood, Tate Underwood, Ellie Spivey, Alex Spivey, Ruby Davenport, Wilder Davenport, Alex Meyer and Mikayla Davenport; and her very special friend, Stuart Meinke.
Memorials may be given to First Southern Baptist Church of Holbrook (www.firstbaptistholbrook.org), Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock (www.phumc.com), Kerrville First United Methodist Church (www.kfumc.org) or to The Coming King Foundation-Kerrville Empty Cross (office@thecomingkingfoundation.org).
Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville and Owens Livingston Mortuary of Holbrook were in charge of the arrangements.
