Wilma "Marlyn" Walters

Wilma "Marlyne" Walters, passed away, July 18, 2026. Inurnment of Mrs. Walter will take place at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 29, 2026 at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Dalhart.

Wilma “Marlyne” Walters, born on August 14, 1940, in Rhea, Oklahoma, was a woman of strength, tenacity, and boundless love.

She lived a life that was as vibrant and multifaceted as the colorful quilt she could swiftly sew together. From her early years in Putnam and Taloga, Oklahoma, to her later life in Amarillo, Texas, Wilma’s spirit and resilience left an indelible mark on everyone she met.

Her heart was as expansive as the Texas sky, filled with love for her family and dogs, and with a passion for John Wayne movies, romance novels, and sewing. As the poet Maya Angelou once wrote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This sentiment aptly captures the essence of Marlyne, whose warm, welcoming nature was the cornerstone of her life and work, especially during her years as the beloved receptionist at the Holiday Inn in Dalhart, Texas.

Wilma thrived on life’s simple joys and found pleasure in the everyday. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to open ceramic and thrift stores in the mid-80s. Yet her most cherished role was as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Wilma’s dedication to her family was unwavering. She was the kind of woman who put others before herself, with grace and humility. Married to James “Breezy” Walters since April 15, 1982, she devoted her life to caring for her family, including nursing her mother and her son in their final years. As the novelist George Eliot wrote, “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” Wilma embodied this belief, always extending a helping hand and a comforting word to those around her.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Willis and LaVona Hunter; her brothers, Ed, Tom, and Billy Hunter; her son, Jurden Harvey; and her grandson, Brandon Boulware.

She is survived by her husband, James Walters; her brother, JD Hunter; her children, Lari McDonald and Dwaine Boulware; her grandchildren, Richard McDonald, Nicholas McDonald, and Nicole Kinnison; her daughter-in-law, Brenda Lynes; her adopted daughter, Randi Owens; and many great-grandchildren and cousins. Wilma’s warmth, kindness, and love continue to live on through her family, who will forever cherish her memory.

We invite you to share your memories and photos of Wilma on her memorial page. Your stories and pictures will serve as heartfelt reminders of the loving, multifaceted, and impactful woman she was. They will help us remember not just that Wilma was here, but that she lived, loved, and left an enduring legacy.