Zilla Rose (Best) Partee

ABILENE: Zilla Rose Partee, 85, passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at her home. She was surrounded by her loved ones at the time of her passing. A funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held on Friday, June 18, from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home.
Rose was born on May 12, 1936, in Ovalo to Wesley Wallace and Eva Rose (Self) Best. She attended school in Winters and graduated in 1954. She then attended McMurry College in Abilene.

She married Sam Partee in Bradshaw on July 3, 1964, and then moved to Odessa. Sam entered Seminary school and became a Methodist Minister. Rose and Sam moved every two years throughout the state of Texas until his retirement in 1989. They settled in Abilene at first then moved to Big Springs, she later returned to Abilene to be closer to family.
Rose was a homemaker with sense of adventure, from dancing and dominos to parasailing, Rose loved each day. She never met a stranger, helped dozens of kids in the different churches that Sam ministered in, and she was always in touch with her family. After Sam's passing, Rose's favorite time was coffee in the mornings at the McDonalds in Big Springs, where she was joined by her dear friends.

Rose is survived by her sons, Devin Partee and wife Judy; Richard Partee and wife Sidney; Tommy Partee and wife Diane; daughters, Becky Kennedy and husband Billy; Pat Vanover; Jeanette Rodriquez and husband Able; sister, Norma Morgan and husband Jerry. She is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren, thirty-one great grandchildren, and even a few great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Sam (Dec 1997) and her parents.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Alzheimer's Association at act.alz.org/site/Donation.

Condolences can be left at www.fry-smith.com.