Julia Jeanette McNaney passed away Wednesday, February 10, 2021 in Amarillo, Texas. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, February 15, 2021 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Celebrant Nick Gerber officiating. Burial to follow at West Park Cemetery. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford, Texas. Viewing will be Sunday, February 14, 2021 from 3:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home and rosary to be recited at 5:00 PM. Due to the COVID-19 virus a mask is required to attend the viewing, rosary, and mass. Your safety and health matter to us.

We celebrate an amazing woman whose resilience in life is awe-inspiring for us all. Julia Jeanette Hervol McNaney born February 14, 1932 entered her place of rest and reunited with her beloved Jim on February 10, 2021 at the age of 88.

Julia was born the oldest of five children in Malta, Montana to Joseph and Gertrude (Trudy) Hervol. She grew up near Dodson, Montana. In fifth grade her family moved to Bremerton/Silverdale, Washington where she lived through her sophomore year of high school. Her family then returned to Malta, Montana where she finished high school. She lived life fully as a boy crazed teen, enjoying Gang Busters crime radio programs, becoming an accomplished clarinet player, and taking care of her younger siblings.

She graduated college from Montana State University (MSU - Missoula) in 1955 with a degree in Anthropology/Sociology. She worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell during and after college. Julia furthered her education with graduate studies at Eastern Montana University and the completion of her elementary education teaching certificate from WTSU in 1975.

At MSU, she met her future husband. Julia was married 63 years to the love of her life James (Jim) McNaney, who preceded her in death in April 2019.

While the family was growing up Julia worked as a social worker, substitute teacher, and teacher's aide. Upon receiving her Texas teacher's certificate, she became a public-school teacher with Hereford Independent Schools (Aikman and Bluebonnet Elementary) and guided the education of children for 24 years until her retirement in 1997. She was a member of TSTA-NEA and Delta Kappa Gamma.

She was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Catholic Mothers, and various Bible study groups. Julia frequented the Senior Citizens Center and participated in their functions.

Music was a lifelong passion of hers starting with playing the clarinet as a young girl and marching in the Rose Bowl Parade in high school. She loved music of all genre – especially instrumental classical music. Her passion for music encompassed musicals and theater at Amarillo Little Theater, Moonlight Musical in Lubbock, and Broadway productions in New York Times Square.

She was a consummate reader and learner and thus this was important to her for her family and ultimately all her students. The value placed on education was exemplified with all five children attending WTSU and where she and Jim were named "WTSU Parents of the Year" in 1985-1986.

Life was not complete without travel and fun. Whether traveling to visit kids and grandkids or venturing to Rome to see the Pope she was always ready to go! This included travel to family reunions, annual summer trips to Montana, Alaskan and New England cruises. At home, it was water aerobics and line dancing.

Her likes were the color purple, avid bridge and gin rummy playing (where she was always stingy with the Aces), coconut shrimp, lemonade, and late-night Turner Classic Movies – she was quite the night owl. Her favorite words were "Please and Thank You."  Her dislikes were football and misspelled words – "Eat More Chikin" billboards drove her crazy.

Julia was known for her famous blueberry salad whose recipe has been shared far and wide, never forgetting birthdays, creative personal letters (Christmas letters and those infamous letters to her kids), her impact on her students – her career days gave inspiration to their adult careers (nurses, teachers). We must not forget her being known for never being rushed – she took her time with everything!

Her philosophies in life were simple yet profound. Her philosophy about education was "Children learn by doing. They find their own personal worth by participation. They should be taught 'wherever they are.'  All children deserve motivation. In addition to academic skills, I would hope to teach each child to respect themselves, to respect others, their community and country, and to be a responsible citizen."  Her philosophy about life is "No meal is complete without dessert" and "Pack a picnic lunch" – which is her own version of "take time to stop and smell the roses" – advice which she gave to her children – even as adults.

Joy of people and companionship of others remained a big a part of who she was and continued as she enjoyed meeting new friends and neighbors in her final years as a resident of Bivins Pointe in Amarillo.

Julia is survived by her daughters Kathy Waller and husband John of Denver, CO; Mona Lynn Klein and husband Rick of Hereford, Diane McNaney of Lubbock; sons

Curtis McNaney and wife Bethany of Grand Blanc, MI;  Duane McNaney and wife Sheila of Georgetown, TX; grandchildren Mandi Wheeler and husband Dustin of Amarillo; Pam McNutt and husband Eric of Hereford; Megan McNaney of Austin, James McNaney of Houston; Jeremy Gabriel of Michigan; great-grandchildren Kaelyn and Derek Wheeler; Lexi Jaymes McNutt; Kalie and Zoie Gabriel of Michigan.

Should friends and family desire, memorial contributions may be made to Hereford Meals on Wheels at 426 Ranger Street or St. Anthony's School Endowment, 114 Sunset Drive in Hereford, Texas 79045, or a charity of one's choice.

You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com