Lila G. Ussery, 80, passed away on February 16, 2004, at Edinburg Regional Hospital following a brief illness.  She was born on September 7, 1923, in Carbon, Texas, to W. E. (Slick) and Mary G. (Cricket) Walker.  Lila graduated from Carbon High School where she was a member of the women's volleyball, tennis and basketball teams and was Valedictorian of her class of 1940.  She also graduated from Draughn's Business College in Abilene, Texas, prior to her marriage to L. Roy Ussery on September 11, 1944, in Carbon, Texas.  She and Roy had two children, Sandy Ussery of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Beth Mercer of Monte Alto, Texas.  Lila and Roy moved to Weslaco from Brownwood, Texas in 1955.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Weslaco, a past member of the Weslaco Jr. Service League and Literary Guild, participated in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and other activities that involved her children.

She and Roy founded Ussery Engineering, Inc. in 1962, where she held the position of Secretary/Treasurer from that time until her death.  She retired from the day-to-day operations of the firm in 1982, but continued on as a key member of the board of directors until her death.  Lila was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

She is survived by her son, Sandy Ussery, and daughter-ini-law, Patricia, of New Orleans, Lousiana; a daughter, Beth Mercer and son-in-law, Joe of Monte Alto, Texas; and her brothers, Dale Wayne Walker and wife, Tina, of Carbon, Texas and Monte R. Walker and wife, Janice, of Hobbs, New Mexico.  Also surviving are her granddaughter, Heathyr Ussery Aguilar and her husband, Shawn, of Phoenix, AZ and Tori Elise Oliver of Ruston, Louisiana.

A memorial service was held Thursday, February 19, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at McCAleb Funeral Home Chapel in Weslaco.