Thyra Mize

Thyra Corley Mize (February 13, 1922 – June 22, 2017) Thyra passed peacefully in the early morning on June 22, 2017. Thyra Evelyn Corley was born near Bedias, Texas to Travis and Ethel Corley. At the age of five, she moved with her parents to Huntsville, Texas. Thyra became a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church, joining in 1932. After graduating Huntsville High School, she attended Sam Houston College. In 1940, while walking on the corner of the square near Ernst Jewelers, her future husband, Woodrow Mize, introduced himself and asked her for a date. They married in April of 1942 after Woodrow completed basic training in the US Army. They moved to Columbus, Georgia where Woodrow was stationed at Fort Benning in the US Army Parachute School. Thyra worked at the headquarters of the Nehi Corporation in the accounting department completing beverage orders with an early computing machine. After her husband was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations in 1944, Thyra returned to Huntsville to live with her parents and work in the office of Doctor Raymond Black. In 1949, Thyra’s son Kent was born in Huntsville. In 1961, Thyra started work as secretary to Charles Schmidt, Chairman of the Speech and Drama Department at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). She greatly enjoyed working with the professors and students, and conducting the business activities of the plays and musical productions. In the 1970s Thyra was secretary to the Dean of Fine Arts, Charles Schmidt and later Dean Cording. In March 1979, she was selected as Staff Employee of the Month at SHSU. That recognition included the citation, “The College of Fine Arts is efficient in its operation because of her outlook and helpfulness in her work and in establishing priorities.” She retired from SHSU in 1992. In retirement, Thyra continued pursuing her interests of sewing and collecting antique glassware. She especially enjoyed designing and sewing many colorful lap robes which she donated to retirement and nursing homes. In the 1980s, Thyra traveled to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Her overseas and stateside travels continued each year through 2001. She enjoyed traveling to more than 30 countries and 25 US States, often with her good friend Colleen Beavers and son Kent. Thyra was preceded in death by her parents in 1978 and 1980, and husband of 36 years, Woodrow Mize in April 1978. She is survived by her son, Kent Mize of Houston, Texas; cousins Monte Dan Lawlis and his wife Betty, Judy Beene and her husband Jerald, Marcia Crouch, Nell King and her husband Rick, Jerry Plaster, Johnny Wayne Corley and his wife Linda, John Wesley Corley, Lynda Darlene Janice and her husband Robert; Elaine Hickey, and Woodrow’s niece, Anne Marie Parrott and her husband Hall of Kauai, Hawaii. Her family is grateful for the care and support of the staff at Creekside Retirement Community and Alamo Hospice. Visitation will be Friday, June 30, starting at 10am and funeral service at 11am, both at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home. A private family interment will follow at Adickes Addition Oakwood Cemetery. Full obituary may be viewed and memorial condolences to the family at www.shmfh.com.

Thyra Mize

February 13, 1922 - June 22, 2017