Miss Myers Exchanges Nursing Career For "Fishy" Retirement

After 31 years and eight monthis of nursing in Federal service, Thelma Myers is exchanging her nursing cap and hyposyringe for a straw hat and a fishing pole.
She was born and raised in Carrollton, the daughter of Mrs. G. W. Myers and the late G.W. Myers. After graduation from Carrollton High School, she entered st. Paul's School of Nursing in 1928 and later attended TWU part time from 1959-62.
During WWII she spent five years in the Army Nurse Corps, stationed first at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, Camp Young, Calif for desert maneuvers in 1943, and Camp Chaffee, Ark. She then spent two years on various islands in the South Pacific , including Milne bay, Oro Bay, Nadzab in New Guinea, Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, and Leyte, Cebu, and Manila in the Philippines.
Upon discharge from the Army Nurse Corps she joined the VA nursing staff at McKinney on April 1, 1946 and was present when the first patient was admitted in May. She remained in that institution until July 9, 1965 when she went on detached duty at the Dallas VA Hospital, pending closing of the McKinney facility.. She officially transferred to Dallas Sept. 30, 1965 and remained there until her retirement Feb. 7, 1873. Miss Myers held various positions during her tenure and was night supervisor when she retired.
She speaks of her life time work as most rewarding and a fulfillment of her life's desire - that of helping those less fortunate in mental and physical health. She states that working in Dallas has been fine, but the happiest time of her career was spent at the VA in McKinney. "Friendships that were made there were the closest and most binding and lasting that I have known in my entire lifetime.  I will always love those people," states Miss Myers.
Although retiring from active nursing duties, she has no intention  of completely putting aside her accumulated knowledge of medicine, and intends to keep current her license as well as keep abreast of current trends in nursing.
Her final statement is "Nursing is becoming so complicated that I feel new blood and fresh minds are needed in my position, and it is with great pride and a feeling of "well done" that I stop down".
Miss Myers was honored at various parties including a breakfast at the Sheraton Keist Hotel in Oak Cliff hosted by the Nursing Administrative Staff, and a hospital wide coffee at the VA in Dallas sponsored by the nursing service.
She plans to remain in McKinney with her friend and roommate of 20 years, Janet Kyle, look after her three dogs and two cats, and spend as much time as possible at her cabin on Lake Texoma fishing and living it up.

The Courier-Gazette (Mckinney, Texas) - February 21, 1973

OBITUARY

Thelma I. Myers
February 7, 1918 - December 22, 2015

Thelma I. Myers, age 97, of McKinney, Texas, passed away on December 22, 2015. She was born February 7, 1918, in Carrollton, Texas, to G. W. and Sallie (Fyke) Myers. Thelma proudly served her country in the United States Army during World War II. She grew up in Carrollton. After nursing school, Thelma worked at the VA Hospital in McKinney, Texas until it closed. She then transferred to the VA Hospital in Dallas as a nursing supervisor until her retirement. Thelma enjoyed spending time at the lake and always enjoyed helping other people. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Carrollton.

She is survived by her sister, Eva Norwood of Tyler, Texas; several nieces, nephews and many other loving family members and friends.

Thelma is preceded in death by her parents, G.W. and Sallie Myers; sister, Georgia Ogle; brothers, Darrell, Clifton and Marlin Myers; and longtime friend and companion, Janet Kyle.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at Perry Cemetery in Carrollton, Texas. Family and friends are invited to Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas at their convenience on Tuesday evening to pay their respects and to sign the register book.

Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

THELMA I. MYERS
FEB. 7, 1918 - DEC. 22, 2015

Perry Cemetery, Carrollton, Dallas County, Texas