Services for Jerry Kay Wallace, formerly of Hughes Springs, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 20, 2023 at Bradfield Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs. There will be a time of visitation 5:00 until 7:00 Sunday evening at the funeral home.
Jerry Kay Wallace, 81, went to be with her heavenly father on February 16, 2023, after a short illness.
She was born in Greenville, Texas, on July 30, 1941, to Cecil Samples and Lorena Barker Samples. The family later moved to Hughes Springs where Kay attended school, and met the love of her life, John Wallace. Johnny and Kay married on April 1, 1961.
The couple moved to Dallas to make a living where Kay began working as a receptionist at a paper company. She would share this as a memorable employment when, on November 22, 1963, she answered phones as her coworkers walked down the street to attend a parade the day of the JFK assassination.
Johnny and Kay returned to Hughes Springs to raise a family, and Kay enrolled at East Texas Baptist University. Upon graduation, she taught math at Daingerfield Junior High for a short time, and then finished out the remainder of her career at Hughes Springs High School teaching math and computer courses.
After 30 years in education, Kay retired and focused her efforts on supporting her community by serving on the Hughes Springs ISD school board and Hughes Springs library board. She also contributed many hours of service to the First Baptist Church, and tutored many former students needing support with college math.
Kay is survived by her brother, James Samples; sisters, Lou Barnes and Sue Debenport; sons, Craig Wallace (wife Christina), Scotty Wallace (fiancee Heather Wright); daughter, Wendy Kubenka (husband Scott); grandchildren, Amanda Hartfiel (husband Justin), Aaron Wallace, Cody Wallace (wife Samantha), Kasey Wallace, Sina Middleton, Sean Middleton; and two great grandsons, Carter Hartfiel and Hayden Hartfiel.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Wallace, parents Cecil and Lorena Samples, and brother, Ret. Lt. Col. Steve Samples.
such an awesome lady and i feel lucky to have known her. sending love and prayers to ya'll
Such a sweet lady. She will be missed.
Rest in Peace 🕊?
Mrs Wallace was my favorite teacher, she helped me so much in school when I probably could've fell thru the cracks and not graduated and I've never forgotten that. She was always so kind to everyone and continued that way after we graduated. Your family has our prayers.
She was an outstanding teacher and a wonderful lady. I enjoyed working with her in the library. Cathy Zachry
She was my Calculus teacher. Very smart and professional lady. She will be missed.
Sending prayers to the family. Mrs. Wallace was a sweet lady and good teacher. 🙏🙏
We are thinking of you all and praying for you. Kay and Johnny were part of our church family for many years. We have missed them.
Prayers and hugs
Truly a beautiful and graceful lady. Even when I was in college she tutored me in my college math classes. A true teacher, and one I will always remember.
Kay Wallace was an incredibly kind person and exceptional math teacher. All three of my children were taught by her (and learned under her guidance), and I was privileged to know her especially during that time. Her legacy will remain at HSHS. God’s peace and comfort for her family.
Mrs. Kay was a beautiful lady inside and out! She was a wonderful teacher for me and hundreds of others! She was a great role model for me at school and at church. She will be missed!! Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Kay’s family!!
She's no longer with you in person, but remains in your hearts. Her prayers for you will continue to protect you. My heartfelt sympathy
Debbie
So sorry for your great loss, praying for the family.
I want y’all to know that I’m thinking about you all and I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Your mom was an amazing, beautiful woman and I know she will be missed. May you rest in peace my beautiful school teacher..
This former math student Denise Richardson wanted to take the time to say I'm grateful to have had Ms. Wallace as my high school math teacher. She gave me the love of math and I have passed this on as an elementary math interventionist K-2nd teacher
I remember her having such grace as she circled the room to check work. I really wanted to be just like her. I really thought I was terrible at math until she gave me a few tricks and the confidence. I never would have survived college algebra and geometry if it wasn't for her math tricks. She thought in place value before it was a teaching method. Once my adhd brain was able to process this mental math came easy.
Thanks for your love of math. I have married a man whose father was a NASA mathematician. My husband is a math genius and has built his control A/C business around math. My daughter graduated high school with college math classes having a 99% average. And my youngest daughter is 9 years old and is 2 grade levels ahead in math. Thank you Ms. Wallace. You were an inspiration.
Mrs. Wallace made a profound impact on my life. She influenced my first major in college at East Texas Baptist University where she helped me get admitted. Not having anyone else in my immediate family who had entered college when I started, her advice and direction in my life will never be forgotton. The computer classes she held in high school fostered a desire to get into Texas A&M where I graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science and went on to work at Microsoft for the past 30 years. I have retold my story of how Mrs. Wallace's academic tutoring shaped my career. I'm sure many other students could say the same. Also, I met up with her son, Craig and wife Christina Wallace during my college years at TAMU and they also made an impact on the life of my wife and I. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren AND students … and will continue to do so for generations to come. May God continue to bless the Wallace family with those who share her faith, her work ethic, and her kindness among many things she possessed. She will be truly missed.