Pearl Wallis

Pearl Files Wallis, after a long and adventurous life, died peacefully at home in Las Cruces, New Mexico on January 15, 2008.

Her graveside service was held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 26, 2008 in Elmwood Memorial Park, 5750 Hwy. 277 South. Visitation was from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 PM at Elmwood Funeral Home the day of the service.

Pearl was born at home in Comanche County to Frank Munroe Files and Jenny Couch Files in 1913. She had one sister and eight brothers. She grew up cooking and gardening and doing whatever needed to be done with enthusiasm and energy, traits which characterized the rest of her life.

Pearl married Fred E. Wallis on December 23, 1934. In 1944, Fred began his career in the Federal Civil Service, taking them to Farragut Naval Training Station in North Idaho. In 1956, they transferred to the naval air station at Kodiak, Alaska and in 1958, Fred transferred to Anchorage as the head of the U.S. Civil Service Board of Examiners for the State of Alaska. In 1959, Pearl and Fred celebrated their 25th anniversary before Fred died suddenly of a massive heart attack in March of 1960.

In 1961, Pearl and her daughters returned to Abilene, Texas where Pearl worked fulltime for Abilene Christian University while attending the university fulltime. She graduated in five years and then returned to Alaska where she taught middle school.

Pearl married Travis Wallis in 1972, and lived in Phillips, and later, Clarendon, Texas. After 27 years of marriage, Travis died in 1999. Early in 2000, Pearl moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico and continued an active life, focusing on gardening, sewing, cooking, baking, and her family. Pearl enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and delighted in nurturing and feeding them. A peach cobbler and a story about one of her adventures were always available.

The Wallis family relished outdoor activities ranging from beachcombing and berry-picking to hunting big game and fishing, and included a seven-day river raft trip down the wild Colorado River through the Glen Canyon in 1948. Pearl was active in the Church of Christ throughout her life. She was a well-loved and cherished mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her life has provided a rich legacy for future generations.

Pearl is survived by her daughter, Barbara Hampton of Houston, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Freda and Doug Coalson of Las Cruces, New Mexico; grandchildren, Heidi Hampton Cox, her husband Bruce, and great-grand-children, Erin, Christopher, David, and Lucie Cox of Fairfax, Virginia; Wallis Hampton, his wife Monica, and great-grand-children, Jake, Nicole, and Natalie Hampton of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Britt Coalson of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Dane Coalson and his wife Rebecca of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Piper Coalson of Aranjuez, Spain; and brother, Marcel Files of Dallas, Texas.

Pearl was preceded in death by her first husband, Fred; her second husband, Travis; her parents; seven brothers; and her sister.

Pallbearers are Britt Coalson, Dane Coalson, Wallis Hampton, Kelly Caddell, Bron Caddell, and Kevin Caddell.

Visitation

Elmwood Funeral Home
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Saturday, January 26, 2008
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Service

Graveside Service

Elmwood Memorial Park
5750 HWY 277 South
Abilene, TX  79606
Saturday, January 26, 2008
1:00 p.m.