Mrs. Cummings

A celebration of life for Karen “Froggy” Cummings, 71, of Gatesville will be from 6-8 p.m. May 3 at Heritage Funeral Home in Lampasas.

Mrs. Cummings died on April 28, 2024 in Waco.

She was born on Nov. 15, 1952 in Lampasas to Lelia Annette Roberts Spivey and Leonard William “Bob” Spivey.

Mrs. Cummings grew up in Lampasas, where she was one of the first women to take ag classes at Lampasas ISD and was Rodeo Queen. She graduated from Lampasas ISD and attended Tarleton State University before ultimately graduating from Central Texas College with her Bachelor of Nursing and becoming a Registered Nurse. She had a widely varied nursing career; working as a circulating nurse in the operating room, assisting in open heart surgery, witnessing surgery by the famous heart surgeon Dr. DeBakey, and countless other medical procedures.

Mrs. Cummings met the love of her life, Gerald, and retired to the ranch life in 1991. She loved raising kid goats and calves. Her lifelong passion, however, was horses. Her breeding program would produce a slew of winners and producers, including Southern Cashman, a two-time All-American qualifier and Ruidoso Derby winner, and Pass Em Up Perry, a producing mare of over $2 million.

Mrs. Cummings will be remembered for her wit, her laugh, her love of animals, her love of Christmas, her sense of humor, her love of her grandkids and greatgrandkids, and especially for her candid nature. She was not afraid to say exactly what you needed even if it might not be what you wanted to hear. She was a gift giver and would begin shopping for that perfect Christmas gift in September.

A lifelong liberal, she was infamous in local Facebook groups and was proud to have been banned from every top Texas elected official’s Facebook page. Her final feelings regarding a certain national candidate are unprintable, but if you knew her you already know what she thought.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Gerald “A.G.” Cummings; her sister, Lynette Davis; and her parents.

Survivors include her brother, Leonard Spivey; daughter Shelly Spivey; honorary daughter Melissa Booth and husband Jason; son William Cummings and husband Adam Conrad; grandsons Logan Beaver, Dylan Beaver and Jace Sanchez; granddaughters Lelia Sanchez, Avva Calhoun and Jaylee Calhoun; three great-grandchildren and eight nieces.

Karen’s final wish was to have a “Kentucky Derby spread of roses” at her service. Donations also can be made to the Central Texas Cattle Baron’s Ball to benefit the American Cancer Society.