Funeral services for Leona Sikes, known to most as Judy, 91, of Portales, will be held at 2:00 PM, Sat., July 22, 2017 at the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ with her nephews, Buddy Blue and Barney Blue officiating, assisted by Johnny Lieb. James Anthony Sikes, Tyler Sikes, Michael Sikes, Kevin Breshears, Lance Breshears, Benjamin Blue and Justin Rolan will serve as pallbearers. Jared Rolan, Dudley Cash, Benton Blue, and Curtis Breshears, along with all of her church family will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Leona May Sikes was born Nov. 18, 1925 in Yukon, OK to the home of Margaret (Svejkovsky) and Harry Mike Shedeck and died July 20, 2017 in Portales, NM. Judy, as she was nicknamed by her father, and her family moved from OK to Spearman, TX when she was four years old. Judy graduated from High School there in 1942, and went on to study at West Texas State University in Canyon, TX where she completed a degree in elementary education in 1946. Her advisor was a friend of M. G. Hunt, the superintendent of schools in Portales, and Mr. Hunt hired her over the phone to begin teaching fourth grade that same fall. One year she had 49 students in her room. Later she taught second grade off and on until 1960.
On Dec. 22, 1948 in Lubbock, TX, she was married to Noble Sikes. Judy was an excellent cook, and homemaker. Her children were always blessed with creative birthday cakes and other goodies. Judy made countless mints for weddings and showers, and had created table cloths of every conceivable color and size to be used for various occasions. Her family loved her homemade biscuits, and fought over the various pieces of her fried chicken. Only twice a year would she make long spaghetti for them, as she said the kids were too messy with the way they ate it.
Judy was reared in the Methodist church, but after marrying Mr. Sikes, she became a faithful member of the Church of Christ. In addition to the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ, she was a member and past president of both the Portales Woman’s Club and AAUW. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Judy taught numerous Sunday School classes, and helped with Vacation Bible Schools and various other church activities. She maintained prayer lists and faithfully prayer for many family members and friends. Several residents at Heartland Continuing Care Center, where she had been a resident in recent months, commented that she continued to be a strong spiritual influence through her final days.
Since the death of her husband in 1990, Judy had made at least ten bus tours. Five of those were to Branson, MO. She particularly like going there during the holidays when everything is lavishly decorated. For many years, she and her “card playing buddies” from church, had weekly gatherings to play Hand and Foot and various other games.
Mrs. Sikes is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Lou Sikes of Portales and Jimmy and Diana Sikes of Lubbock, TX; two daughters and a son-in-law, Lenna Rolan of Portales and Belinda Jo and Jack Mattingley of Nome, AK; five grandsons, Jared (Triston) Rolan, Justin Rolan, James Anthony Sikes, Tyler Sikes and Michael Sikes. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard Shedeck and her sister, Adelaide “Dolly” McWhirter, and by her beloved husband, Noble Sikes, who died Oct. 24, 1990.
