Wanadee Box

WanaDee Box passed away at her home Thursday, April 11, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer. WanaDee was born to Martin and Margaret Lewis on January 4, 1937 in Alamogordo, NM. After WanaDee was born Martin and Margaret moved from the ranch to Ysleta where Martin owned a gas station. Martin sold the Gas station and moved the family to Sallisaw OK to continue his ranching heritage. WanaDee graduated from Sallisaw High School in Sallisaw, OK and went on to attend New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, NM. During her time at NMSU, WanaDee met her husband Walter Box. From this marriage two sons, Roy and Dwight Box, were born. Walter and WanaDee first lived in Clovis NM where Walter was a feed salesman for El Rancho Feeds. There first son Roy was born in Clovis and shortly after that they built a house in Texico NM. Walter had an opportunity to become manager of Davidson feed pens in Pecos TX. WanaDee did serval jobs including working as a booker at the feed lot. She was also head of the EEOC and head start programs. While in Pecos there Second son Dwight was born. Things weren’t working well for WanaDee in Pecos. She and Walter split and Wanadee and the two boys moved to El Paso for a very short time. WanaDee and Walter reconciled their differences and the family moved to Alabama where they ran a preconditioning outfit for Davidson feed pens. Walter and WanaDee were very active in the Alabama Cattlemen and Jr Cattlemen’s Associations. Through their hard work and dedication WanaDee arranged the first Jr cattlemen’s field day that attracted Jr cattlemen from around the state. Their work help make Alabama Jr Cattlemen’s Association one of the best in the nation. The conflict between WanaDee and Walter grew to be too much and they divorced. Following her divorce from Walter; WanaDee moved to Fort Davis and worked at the McDonald Observatory. She found her calling when she interviewed with Angelo State University for the Carr Scholarship Foundation. Throughout her years of hard work and determination; the Carr Foundation grew from its initial IRS book value of $6.8 million in 1978 to well over $100 million dollars when she retired in February 2013. WanaDee was an ardent supporter of the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) and their Texas chapter throughout her career at the Carr Scholarship Foundation. With her work at NARO-TX WanaDee testified numerous times to the Texas State Legislature regarding various bills protecting and supporting royalty owners. She also raised funds for the NARO-TX legislative fund. WanaDee was also pretty savvy in local politics. She was consistently active in the Concho Valley Republican Women organization. Through her work with the organization the Republican Party ran a candidate for a county commissioner; two years later two county constables, and then a flood of elected republican officials. WanaDee is preceded in death by her parents, brother Franky Lewis, and sisters Barbara Ann Lewis and Bobby Gordon. She is survived by her sons: Roy Box, his ex-wife Margaret Box, Dwight Box and his wife Cassi Box; four grandchildren: Lewis Box, Justin Box, Blake Box and Burk Box; niece Diane Goodwin, along with numerous cousins. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 3:30 PM at Harper Funeral Home with burial at Cienega Cemetery on Friday April 26, 2019. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Concho County Cancer Fund PO Box 82, Eden, TX 76837.