Rebecca Pauline McDade, 97, of Buchanan Dam died May 3, 2016

Rebecca Pauline McDade was born Aug. 16, 1918, to Alfred Thomas and Nancy Burnes Shedd on the family farm near Gatesville, Texas. She passed away peacefully at home in Buchanan Dam, Texas, on May 3, 2016.

She was the next-to-youngest in a family of 12 children. When she was nine in 1927, the family moved to Post, Texas, where she graduated high school at the age of 17. During that time, her mom died when she was 12 and she had to do the cooking and housekeeping for her dad and brothers who were still at home. This was also the time of the Great Depression. She told stories of the family almost starving during those years. She never forgot those hardships and never wasted anything. She rarely bought anything for herself but gave to her family and her Lord.

After high school, Polly married O.A. Williams in 1937 in Post. They had two daughters: Kathe and Nancy. O.A. died of tuberculosis, and because she had nursed him, she became ill. She was sent to Carlsbad, Texas, to the state tuberculosis hospital, where she recovered and also met and married Gene McDade.

Gene had two daughters: Nona and Carol. This combined family lived in Odessa and San Angelo before settling in Carlsbad. Polly went to nursing school and worked until retirement at the tuberculosis hospital. They had one daughter together: Judy. She obtained her real estate license and was Worthy Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star.

Gene died in 1969, and after Polly retired in 1980, she moved to Buchanan Dam to live close to Nancy and her family. She was active in the community and her church, rarely missing a service before becoming homebound. She attended Baptist Mission Church, which became Buchanan West Baptist Church of which she was a charter member.

Polly loved living on the lake, where she fished, gardened and enjoyed her family. She was a wonderful cook and especially enjoyed holiday celebrations. Christmas with her was always a good time. She was also a good seamstress and made quilts for everyone in the family. She traveled a lot to visit her sister, brother, Kathe and Judy. Her family was very important to her, especially her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; 11 siblings; husbands, O.A. Williams and L.E. McDade; stepdaughter Nona Brashear; and granddaughter Kelly Brock.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathe Algor of Conover, North Carolina, Nancy Roberts and partner Clay Lynn of Buchanan Dam and Judy Hail and husband Mike of Dallas; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express our gratitude for the loving care given to her by her wonderful caregivers, Cindy, Deanie, Christy and Paula. She loved you all and thought of you like family. Also, to her dear friend, Margaret Hiestand, for her loyalty and weekly visits.

A memorial service was May 7 at Buchanan West Baptist Church.