Trula Faye Kuykendall

Trula Faye (DeMoss) Kuykendall, formerly a resident of Fort Worth, died peacefully in the early morning hours of May 5th in Austin, Texas, where she had resided the last seven years. A memorial service to celebrate her 95 years of life is scheduled for 1pm this Saturday, May 10th, at Emerald Hills Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Kennedale, Texas. A native Texan, Trula was born in Nocona (Montague County) to Margie and Luther DeMoss September 11th, 1929. The fifth of six children, she grew up in this small farming and ranching community in a home filled with love, by parents who modeled for their children the value of honesty, integrity, hard work and devotion to family. She loved watching ‘The Waltons” because the similarities of that close and loving family making its way during the Depression, and World War II, reminded her so much of her own. When she was 11 years old, her family moved within the same county, not far from Forestburg, to run her paternal grandparents small farm and ranch. There, she and her youngest brother, Travis, spent many days playing and exploring the property on horseback; relatives and neighbors sometimes gathered to sing and play music after enjoying one of her Mother’s home-cooked meals. She learned her Mother’s excellent cooking and baking skills. These years held especially fun and happy memories for her. Not long after World War II, Trula met the love of her life, Troy Lee Kuykendall, a handsome WWII veteran, whose family’s small farm and ranch was located not far from her family’s. They wed and moved to Ft. Worth, where Troy ran and operated Kuykendall Neon Sign Co., and they raised their four children: Jacqueline, Zachary, Deanna and Stephen. Trula devoted herself to family. Throughout the kids’ childhoods, Trula taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and was active in the PTA, serving as Room Mother for each of them. As Stephen approached high school graduation, Trula set out to earn her associate’s degree from Tarrant County College. She was intimidated at first being an older student, but she thrived and excelled academically. She loved the energy of a college campus and the young people. Upon graduation she went to work in the college’s counseling center for more than 30 years. Aside from her fear of heights, Trula was a strong Texas woman who demonstrated her deep faith by caring for others, especially children. She had a special place in her heart for children, especially her nieces and nephews, her 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She delighted in encouraging their interests and dreams, always with her unconditional love. She is predeceased by her parents, Margie Alice Long and William Luther DeMoss, her five siblings, Melvis, Hazel, L.V., Neva and Travis, their respective spouses, her loving husband of 50 years, Troy Lee Kuykendall, their eldest daughter, Jacqueline Lea Kuykendall Grahm, and nephews Ronald Wayne Forrester and James “Jimmy” Mays. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.