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Gomez, Anna Hiebert (1887-1971)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Feb 18 p. 7
Birth date: 1887
text of obituary:
Death Claims Long-Time Worker Among Indians
Corn, Okla. — Mrs. Joe Gomez, 82, long-time Mennonite Brethren worker among the Indians at Lawton and Indiahoma, Okla., died at her home in Indiahoma on Jan. 29, it was learned here. The funeral was held Feb. 1 at the Indiahoma M. B. Church.
Mrs. Gomez is survived by her husband; two sons, Rev. Walter Gomez of Pharr, Texas and Rev. Joe Edward Gomez of Lawton; and three daughters.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Mar 11 p. 11
text of obituary:
Served Comanches, Spanish Americans
"PRECIOUS in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" was the prevailing thought at the memorial service for Mrs. Anna Hiebert Gomez at Indiahoma, Okla. on Feb. 1.
"Momma Anna," as she was lovingly called by her Comanche and Spanish friends, was born in the Ukraine in 1887. She grew to womanhood and received her education and Bible training in the Mountain Lake, Minn. area.
Desirous to serve her Lord, she came to the Post Oak Mission among the Comanche Indians in Oklahoma in 1909 and began her service by assisting Mrs. A. J. Becker in the household and family. Mrs. Becker had been appointed field matron and welfare worker by the U. S. government and was absent from her home and missionary duties much of the time. Sister Anna easily acquired the Comanche as well as the Spanish language and entered wholeheartedly into service for her Lord in church and community, winning souls for the Lord through example and Bible teaching.
AN EVEN GREATER opportunity for service was granted to her when she entered holy matrimony in 1912 with a young Christina man, Joe Gomez, of Spanish descent. With this union the Comanche mission work also entered into Spanish evangelism and new stations were opened among the Spanish people in Richard Spurr and Lawton, Okla. This became the first M. B. Conference contact with the many Spanish Americans living in the area.
During the next 20 years Anna proved herself an indispensable part of the extended service of the Post Oak congregation. In 1936 she was appointed to full missionary status by the Board of M. B. Missions. When Sister Becker passed away in 1938 she took over the work in church and community and literally became the spiritual mother of many people. The Board of Missions supplied her with a car and she was on the road almost constantly, visiting the poor, the sick and the hospitalized. Joe was appointed custodian of farm and grounds and often accompanied her on her visitation ministries.
WHEN Rev. Becker retired from active duty new missionaries (pastors) were called and Sister Gomez assisted and instructed them in the Comanche culture and language.
Her devotion to her Lord, the church and community, and her unselfish service to all in need made her beloved and admired, as was witnessed by the many floral offerings, the large memorial attendance, and the words of appreciation in song and message.
In 1953 the Board of Missions furnished the family a house and pension for retirement. This was greatly appreciated by the family, but retirement never came. She labored beyond her physical strength to her dying day, giving her best and last for the people she loved.
MEMORIAL services were conducted by the present pastor, Rev. Cycil Adrian, assisted by Rev. D. J. Gerbrandt, representing the past pastors of the church. The writer represented the members and office staff of the M. B. Board of Missions/Services.
Mrs. Gomez preceded in death her husband Joe, and five children: Walter, missionary in Mexico; Joe Edward, pastor of Lawton, Okla.; Josephene [sic Josephine] (Mrs. C. C. Knox), missionary to the Navajos, New Mexico; Anadena [sic Enedena] (Mrs. Ross Roberts) and Aurora (Mrs. Roberts), both of Arkansas.