Gloria Lambert

Gloria Hicks Lambert, beloved mother, wife, sister, teacher and friend, died on November 29, 2018 in Midland Memorial Hospital after complications during surgery. She was 81.Gloria was born Nov. 17, 1937, in Wichita Falls to Monette and Paul Hicks. When she was 10 years old the family moved to Midland where her father was a partner in a janitorial supply company. She attended North Elementary, Cowden Junior High and was in the first ninth grade class to attend San Jacinto Junior High. She graduated from Midland High School and throughout her life kept in close contact with many of her MHS classmates.In a family dedicated to the University of Texas, Gloria couldn’t go there because of allergies, so she attended and graduated from the University of Arizona at Tucson with a degree in merchandising and fashion promotion. After working in the field a short time, Gloria decided she liked to shop better than helping other people shop and a career change was in order, so at the urging of her father she endured the mountain cedars of Austin long enough to complete at UT the education study requirements to become a teacher.Teaching was her calling. She taught history at Lee High School in Midland and later taught history and geography to gifted and talented students at Nimitz Junior High and Permian High School in Odessa. She loved her students, and in later years, she rarely could go anywhere without running into one of them and telling everybody within hearing distance, “That’s one of my students,” and with tongue in cheek exclaiming, “I taught him/her everything they know.”On April 12, 1968, Gloria married LaDoyce Lambert. Together, they traveled the world and were active in community and social organizations both in Midland and Odessa. Gloria was the first executive director of the Big Brothers-Big Sisters organization in Midland. She was active in Junior League and study clubs in both cities, as well as a book club and stock club, and served as president of the Crystal Ball in Odessa. As a breast cancer survivor she was instrumental in forming Pink the Basin. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta and the DAR.Gloria was a gifted artist, a much better one than she would admit to being, painting mostly in pastels. Gloria’s father started taking her to football games at age 2 so she was a lifelong fan, especially of the Texas Longhorns.She loved hanging out with her friends, whether at the bridge table, at dinner club or just during an evening out. Gloria made friends easily and leaves a host of them to cherish her memory.Gloria had a strong commitment to the Lord. She loved the Methodist church and on Sunday it was a given that her family would attend worship services. She was president of her Sunday School class several times and served in various church volunteer capacities, as well as taking part in numerous Bible studies. She could even be considered a “recruiter” since she had no hesitation in inviting people she met to come to church.Family was a focal point of Gloria’s life. The arrival of her daughter Amy was a blessing she would hold in her heart until the end. And she doted shamelessly on her grand-daughter Pearson. She loved family gatherings and would organize one at the drop of a hat to make sure the family stayed connected.Survivors include her husband of 50 years, LaDoyce; daughter Amy Lambert Lee, husband Robb, of Dallas; sister, Jann Bash and husband Vince, of Midland; brother Jim Hicks, wife Linda, of Midland; granddaughter Pearson Lee of Dallas; nephews David Bash of Houston, and Robert Hicks of Midland; nieces Katherine Bash Kennedy of Midland and Sarah Hicks of Midland; cousins, Carol Willis Reynolds of Johnson City, Lynette Weisheit of Dallas, Jon Hicks of White Rock, N.M., Joe Hicks of Springfield, VA., and Jerry Hicks of Roy, N.M.The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2018, at The Branch at npw, Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, 3800 N. Big Spring St., Midland.A celebration of Gloria’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Odessa with the Rev. Todd Salzwedel officiating.Memorials may be directed to the Permian Basin Rehab Center, 620 N. Alleghany St., Odessa, 79761 or a charity of choice.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland, Texas. Online condolences may be sent at www.npwelch.com,