Patricia Elizabeth Cummings

Patricia Elizabeth Cummings, 79, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Legacies Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hemphill, Texas.

Pat was born on March 2, 1944, in Lubbock, Texas to Bessie Elizabeth Short Phillips and Henry Absolum Phillips.

Patty, as she was known in her early years, grew up in Sunray, Texas where she attended school. She graduated in 1962 as Salutatorian of her class. She went on to West Texas State College, where she met the love of her life Clifton E. Cummings Jr. They eloped to Tucumcari, New Mexico on August 31, 1962 and their lifetime of adventures together started. They were blessed with two boys, Jeff and Marc. She worked at Affiliated Managers and Church Loans and Investments Trust in Amarillo during their first few years of marriage.

In 1975, Pat and Clif moved to Toledo Bend Lake in Hemphill, Texas. They owned and operated Midlake Kampground for 30 years. She spent countless hours in the “Store” raising her family and taking care of business. Pat and Clif were founding members of the Pendleton Harbor Volunteer Fire Department where she served as Secretary/Treasurer for many years while Clif and her boys were active firefighters. She was welcoming to all and her doors were always open to kids in need of a place to call home.

During retirement, Pat was able to spend more time with her flowers. She had the prettiest yard in Midlake Village and loved finding unique plants and flowers to add to her collection. She continued her love of bookkeeping by working with her son Jeff and helping him with his business, Midlake Portable Toilets. Clif and Pat also loved to travel and took several trips across the United States during their retirement. They loved the Hill Country and traveling the roads of Texas. They also traveled to Oklahoma to see their son Marc and took long road trips to Maine and Colorado. They were often seen at their grandchildren Kyle and Katie’s activities and traveled often to see them as they began lives of their own.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Clifton Eugene Cummings, Jr; her two sons, Jeff Cummings, and Bella of Hemphill, Texas and Marc Cummings and wife Amy of Mannford, Oklahoma; two grandchildren Kyle Cummings of Norman, Oklahoma and Katie Beth Cummings of West, Texas; her sister Jan Miller and husband Ronnie of Corsicana, Texas; sisters-in-law Cindy Hall and husband Dwayne of Skellytown, Texas and Jeannie Cummings of Lufkin, Texas; nieces and nephews Christina Bragg, Eric Miller, Terry Miller, Brandon Cummings, Cheree Cummings, Cori Cummings, ReDonn Woods, and Marcus Hall; numerous great-nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Cricket.

Cremation arrangements were handled by Starr Funeral Home, Hemphill, Texas.

Memories and condolences may be shared at starrfuneralhome.com