OBITUARY: PEGGY POLLARD

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, Peggy Pollard, 83, completed her beautiful journey.

She was born July 23, 1940, to Hubert and Hazel Matney in McCamey, Texas. On December 17, 1960, at Hill Chapel on the WT (currently West Texas A&M University) campus, she married Jim Pollard. The two truly lived out Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Together they loved traveling, camping, dancing (at Silver Dollar City or Bob Wills Days w/ good friends), playing games—cards, marbles or dominoes (with Peggy winning)—giving to others, and allowing Peggy to take excellent care of Jim! They were blessed with two children, Greg and Julie, and the blessings continued from there.

Peggy is survived by her best friend Jim; by son Greg and wife Tammie of Kansas City, Missouri; granddaughter Whitney and her husband Calvin Lollar, and JimPa and Grammy’s great grandsons Eian (2) and Hunter (2); granddaughter Maddie and husband Steve Backes, and great grandsons Joel (4) and Henry(2); grandson Matt and wife Anna Pollard, all of Kansas City; daughter Julie and husband Chad Logsdon of Gruver; grandson Zach and wife Kaitlyn Logsdon of Lubbock; granddaughter Alex and husband Richard Northcott, and great grandchildren Charlee (3) and Graham (1) of Amarillo; and grandson Cole Logsdon of Lubbock.

It was so important to Peggy that her grandchildren become good friends despite the geographical distance, so she took everyone camping, and to North Carolina, and to Branson, and to Disney World with a Disney cruise. And it worked!! Also, of great importance, was teaching her family to give to others—so for Christmas we would receive water wells in Africa and an occasional goat that could really help a family in need.

Listing everything Peggy was involved in is a Herculean task—but here goes: Her hobbies included cooking (chocolate chip cookies, biscuits & gravy, pumpkin pie just to name a few); gardening (you really should see her yard); sewing, quilting, woodworking (so many birdhouses), videoing everything her family did (Jim still enjoys DVDs from every vacation, and all of her six grandkids have a full chronicle on CDs of their lives from birth to high school graduation). She enjoyed regular lunch dates with several of her Canadian friends, and she still attended and loved her Paducah High School class reunions, where she graduated Salutatorian and All-Around Girl of the PHS Class of ‘58!

But easily the most amazing thing about Peggy was her intuitive nature with people. She intrinsically knew where there was a need, and she’d roll up her sleeves and invest herself into anything and anyone who needed her help. Whether it’s a child in Africa, a WT student recuperating from a surgery or in need of a babysitter, a 48-year-old daughter recuperating from a car accident and requesting mashed potatoes, family needing to pack up for a move, her own mom in her later years, a neighbor or a library needing help to declutter, a neighbor needing mechanical assistance with a sprinkler system – she could and would help anyone in a heartbeat!

Upon arrival for college in Canyon, she immediately joined in and began working at the Baptist Student Union, and that’s where she told Jim he could pick her up on their first date! She graduated from West Texas State University (as it was known then) in 1961 with an Elementary Education degree. Any child Peggy taught was a very fortunate student. One friend shared that many years ago, she saw Peggy at Baker Elementary in Canadian on her knees on the floor so she could make better eye contact to discipline a student with kindness and respect. She went from the general education classroom to Special Education, serving several schools in the Texas Panhandle as an Educational Diagnostician. After retiring, she and Jim served in the CASA organization, advocating for abused or neglected children. They made a very special team and Peggy maintained contact with some of the children she served.

One of the best decisions the couple made was moving to Canyon ten years ago, because Peggy refused to allow either of them to just sit down. To say they love WTAMU is a gross understatement. Immediately upon arrival, Peggy (ever the organizer) volunteered to direct traffic at the dorms as freshmen came to the campus! She served the Presbyterian Church, the Panhandle Plains Museum, the Village, and the Buffs! She really enjoyed feeding the teams and attending all home games. When the Buffs played away games, she and Jim either traveled together to cheer them on or streamed the event. The two of them, along with a few friends, shared some popcorn and mostly victories!

Most recently Peggy and Jim joined the Canyon Missional Community where they interacted with students sharing their faith and wisdom—and their hearts. And, as usual, she developed new friendships inside of this group also.

During Peggy’s cancer treatments and ill health, her optimism and kindness encouraged and deeply touched everyone she met. God places His people in this world exactly where and when He needs them, so that He can accomplish His plan. Actually, it never mattered where she was or what she was doing or who she was with, Peggy was having a great time and learning a little more about everyone she encountered. She was a light everywhere she went.

Peggy Jo Matney Pollard was truly inspirational. She could squeeze more into a 24-hour day than anyone. One encounter with her, and you could immediately feel a friendship forming. United Supermarket employees, nurses, oncologists, volunteers at Harrington, or fellow chemotherapy patients will miss Peggy.

And we, her family—her legacy—will miss her beyond recognition. But we are absolutely certain that this isn’t ‘Good-Bye’—it’s only ‘See You Later!’

A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held in Hill Chapel on the WT campus where Jim and Peggy began their life together. It will be at 10 am on Wednesday, June 26.

Memorials can be made to The Christian Relief Fund, PO Box 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114, (806) 858-4038.