Vivian Yvonne Tumlinson, 71, entered into eternal rest on February 26, 2010 surrounded by her family in Athens after a long battle with cancer. Viv was born on April 26, 1938 in Paris to the late Milton and Faye (Nanny) Busby. The tumlinson family made Athens their home in 1968 where they established Phantom Boat Company and Vivian immediately became a community leader. In 1987, she bought the Century 21 franchise and continued her passion for helping others through her work. Vivian was a true philanthropist and her purpose was essentially the spiritual challenge of bringing into conscious relationship the inner life of mind and spirit with the outer life of action and service. There have been countless lives touched and changed by her presence in this world and her sole purpose in life was to make a difference in the lives of others.
Vivian is survived by her children Carolyn Tumlinson, Jerry Tumlinson, Paige Jones and husband Clay, all of Athens; brother Jerry Busby, Mentone; sister Norma Boyd, Athens; very special aunt Geneva Rodgers; Noel and Karen Tumlinson, Athens; Wayne Carrell; Michael G. Vaughn; grandchildren Michael (Pete) Vaughn; Jessica Tumlinson; Colton Tumlinson; Cody Jones; Afton Jones; numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, her staff at Century 21 and many dear friends.
Memorial Services will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 4 P M at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Joe Warren and Dr. Faulk Landrum officiating. A reception will be held immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in memory of Vivian be made to Young Life, 804 Shelby, Athens, Texas 75751; Henderson County Food Pantry, P O Box 2062, Athens, Texas 75751; East Texas Crisis Center, 310 S. Carroll, Athens, Texas 75751 or any local Athens charity or non-profit organization of your choice.