Velma Lightfoot

Funeral service for Velma Lightfoot, age 87, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home with Mike Eason officiating. Tom Miller, Kenny Crowson, Stanley Horton, Jose Gomez, and Randy Griffith will be serving as honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Lightfoot passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Rock Creek Health and Rehabilitation in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Velma Faye Henderson-Lightfoot was born the youngest of six on September 2, 1938, in Morton, Texas, to Jim and Edna (Grady) Henderson. After graduating from high school, Velma married John Wylie "JW" Lightfoot on December 21, 1956, in Plains, Texas. In her early years while raising her family, she worked as a beautician before devoting herself to being a homemaker. She and JW moved to East Texas in the late 1960s, where they began farming and ranching. In the 1980s, they expanded into land development throughout Northeast Texas. While raising their two children, Wenoka and John "Dub" Lightfoot Jr., Velma worked alongside JW and was an essential part of the business, keeping the office organized and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Velma had a love for travel and treasured the many memories she made exploring Europe, Australia, and New Zealand with the National Braunvieh Cattle Association. She and JW also enjoyed taking Alaskan cruises and made many cherished trips to Branson, one of her favorite destinations. Whether traveling across the world or closer to home, she valued the experiences and time spent with family and friends.

Above all, Velma was dedicated to her family, and her most cherished title was “Maw Maw”. She loved her grandchildren, Lacey and Casey, more than anything. Her and JW spent countless hours hauling Lacey all over the country to cattle shows and everything in between. She always made sure Casey and JW had a hot meal to come home to at lunchtime. She fiercely loved her great-grandchildren when they came along, and they adored her too.

Velma is survived by her daughter, Wenoka Lightfoot and husband, Ronnie Chavez; grandchildren, Lacey Stewart and husband, Scotty, and Casey Griffith; great-grandchildren, Kayden Lilley, Wylie Proffitt, Reid Stewart; and her special friends, Bonnie Weihrich and Patsy Couch.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, John Wylie “JW” Lightfoot; her parents, Jim and Edna Henderson; son, John “Dub” Lightfoot, Jr.; granddaughter, Miranda Lightfoot; and all of her older siblings.

The family would like to give a thanks to everyone at Heart to Heart Hospice and a special thank you to the staff at Rock Creek Health and Rehabilitation!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.