Annie Lee Rumfield

Annie Lee Rumfield (known as Ann), passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the age of 97. Though she never had children of her own, Ann was truly the matriarch of her family. She prayed, fasted, and interceded until all of her loved ones received the salvation of Jesus Christ. And because of that, she created a legacy that is wealthier and more influential than the most famous person on earth - with a family who will now serve the Lord for generations to come. She was born on March 24, 1925, in Jones County, Texas, the second child yet firstborn daughter of Ruben Ozias and Lola Lee Rumfield. She embodied a personality that truly mirrored the fruits of the Spirit, and took on a compassionate leader-like role with her siblings - Bynum, Billie, Willie Evalin, Bertie Jean, and Charlie. Growing up with humble means, Ann and her siblings would walk 5 miles a day to school in the blistering heat or perpetual snow. And being an avid sports gal, Ann was always the first to participate in any baseball, softball, or basketball game. After high school, she attended John Carlton College (now known as Carlton State University, and worked as a secretary for the US Army at Camp Barkeley in Abilene during WWII. She moved to the valley in 1948, and officially dedicated her life to Jesus at the age of 23. After working for Southwestern Bell for over a decade, she accrued enough money to purchase her first home. Ann told her realtor she wanted to buy a place where she could “pray as loud as she wanted without anybody hearing.” They found the perfect home in Harlingen, which she shared alongside her sister Evalin. For 59 years, Ann and Evalin made this home a revolving door and a spiritual oasis for people from all walks of life - family, friends, and strangers alike. It was in this home where people were saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered from drugs and alcohol and other addictions, and restored by the healing power of Jesus. It was also in this same home where the beginnings of a church would form. It is now known as Northway Bible Church, were Ann’s very own nephew, Kelly Rumfield, still pastors there to this day. Ann continued to purchase the land around her home for other business ventures and built Starlit Mobile Estates in 1973 (named after their niece, Starla) with over a dozen trailer homes and rentals. Since her church was built across the street from the trailer park, Ann took every opportunity to invite her tenants to hear the Word of God. Between Sunday services, revival nights, and Vacation Bible Schools, Ann and Evalin helped lead numerous children, teens, and families to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To her family, Ann was more than a just sister and an aunt. She was a babysitter, a fishing buddy, a cheerleader in the stands, a regular in the carpool pickup line, a prayer warrior, a lending hand in times of distress, and a professional forgiver. Ann valiantly battled cancer and eventually developed dementia in her later years. But because of her example of unconditional love, her niece, Starla, gladly stepped in to take care of her full time and took on the responsibility of Ann’s rental properties and healthcare needs until the day she died. Ann has been reunited in heaven with her parents (Ruben and Lola), her brother and sisters (Bynum, Billie, Evalin, and Bertie Jean), her nephews (Vance and Mikey), her great niece (Faith) and her great-great niece (Selah). She is survived by her youngest brother (Charlie, wife Mary Etta), her nephews (Nicky, Reid, Kelly, David, Zachary), her niece (Starla), as well as 25 great nieces & nephews. If you took anything away from hearing Ann’s story today, she would want you to know this: you are loved and adored by our most precious Heavenly Father, and all He wants is for you to love Him back. No matter how young or old you are, no matter what you’ve done or the mistakes you’ve made up to this moment, He wants to pick you up in the middle of your mess and transform you into a mighty man or woman of God. When you surrender your life to Jesus, fully and completely, He can bless you and use you in ways far greater than you can ever imagine. You were born on purpose, for a purpose, and it’s time for you to live out that purpose. But the only way you can do that, is to come to the end of yourself, and give it all to Jesus. If you’ve wandered away from the Lord in the last few years, or if you’ve never received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today is the day of salvation. No more running, no more trying to do things on your own. It’s time to come back home. A graveside service will take place on Friday, January 13, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Ashland Memorial Park in Harlingen, Texas Funeral Services are under the direction and care of Rudy Garza Funeral Home.

Annie Lee Rumfield

March 24, 1935 - January 7, 2023

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