Sylvia "Mama Bear" Glea Pinkerton Douglas was born on February 4, 1912, in Texas County, Oklahoma, to Robert and Clara Pinkerton and went to be with her Lord on August 3, 2013, at the age of 101. Sylvia grew up on a homestead in the panhandle of Oklahoma until 1929, when she moved to Bethany, Oklahoma to Bethany Penial College. There she earned her teaching certificate, and went on a few dates with Chyral Thomas Douglas. She received a teaching job in Booker, Texas in 1930 and taught until her marriage to C.T. Douglas on May 10, 1932.
They moved to Plainview, Texas and operated Douglas Dairy for 25 years. There she earned her Licensed Vocational Nursing certificate. In 1964 they moved to Hereford to farm and she worked at King's Manor Methodist Home. In 1974 C.T. and Sylvia moved back to Plainview. Sylvia worked several years as a Pink Lady at the hospital. In 1992, the man God had blessed her with for sixty years was called home. Sylvia remained in their home in Plainview until 1999, when she moved to King's Manor in Hereford.
Over the years Mama Bear was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She was a prayer warrior for the family she loved and she was always ready with words of wisdom. At her 100th birthday party, Mama Bear shared her life verse as being Psalm 19:14, and those who knew her can attest to her life being a living model of that prayer. Her Christian life has been beautified to all who knew her. Her work on Earth is finished and her crown of righteousness is ready. She looked and longed for His appearing. Sylvia was a long-time member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Plainview.
Sylvia is survived by three children: Donald Douglas of Hereford and wife, Mary; Bobby Douglas of Plainview and wife, Nelda; and Belva Palmer of Independence, Kansas; nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, ten great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, C.T. Douglas; her granddaughter Kathy Douglas; and her son-in-law, John Palmer.
Family and friends will gather at the First Church of the Nazarene on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. to celebrate her life and love. Rev. Kevin Douglas, Rev. Mike Page, and Rev. Doug Yates will officiate. Interment will follow in Plainview Memorial Park. Funeral service arrangements are under the care of Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the First Church of the Nazarene, 2610 W. 20th St., Plainview, Texas 79072.
Online condolences may be made at www.lemonsfunerals.com.