Hope Caldwell Waller went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 3, surrounded by her loved ones. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman, Texas. A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Trinity Lighthouse Church in Denison, Texas. Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery.

Mrs. Waller was born on Dec. 24, 1937, in Paris, Texas. She was the youngest child of Vivian Miller Caldwell and Guy Stanley Caldwell, Jr. After graduating from Paris High School, she earned a B.S. degree in English and History at East Texas State University. Following college, she taught English at Poplar High School in Poplar, Montana, and later was a reference librarian in the Billings Public Library in Billings, Montana.



After returning to Texas, Hope earned a Master of Library Science from East Texas State University. She then worked as an elementary school librarian in Wichita Falls, Texas. On Aug. 9, 1968, she married A.W. Waller. During their 40-year marriage, Hope and A.W. touched the lives of their family, church and community with their spirit of service to others. Hope began a 31-year career as Director of the Sherman Public Library in 1968. During which time she earned a second Master of Library Science from Texas Woman's University. Hope's never-ending efforts to find and secure funds for the Sherman Public Library enabled the library to grow and meet the demands of a growing city.

During her tenure, the city built a new library facility and later expanded the facility by 3,000 square feet, adding a customer service department and an audio visual center. The library experienced exponential growth in circulation and formed the Bibliographic Association of Red River (BARR), which provided a fully integrated library system for four Grayson County libraries. Hope was voted the Northeast Texas Library System (NETLS) Employee of the Year. In honor of 25 years of service, the City of Sherman renamed the Library Community Room to the Hope Waller Community Room.

Hope served the community in various capacities. Her civic affiliations and organization services included past president of Sherman Business and Professional Women, past president of Altrusa Club, past president of Stratford Club and past president of Listeners Club, as well as a member of the International Women's Club. Hope was extremely involved at her church, Trinity Lighthouse. She served as a greeter, food server for the youth ministry, volunteer in the children's church and a board member in the women's ministry. She also served as the church coordinator to provide food for Reba's Ranch House.

Hope's Christian faith was the foundation of who she was. She demonstrated the love of Christ in her life every day. She was constantly thinking of ways to bring joy to those around her. Her love of baking was often the way she expressed her love for people. In fact, at fundraising events her desserts were famous for bringing in hundreds of dollars. Hope's outstanding character was demonstrated in her loyalty to all those in her life. She always greeted people with a warm welcome and made you feel as if you were the only person in the room. Hope was passionate about living life to the fullest and most enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Hope was preceded in death by her husband, A.W. Waller; parents, Vivian Miller Caldwell and Guy Stanley Caldwell, Jr.; brother, Courtney Caldwell; aunt, Hazel Satcher; cousin, Freddie Kay Pierce; and son-in-law, Darrell Burnett.

She is survived by her sister Sonya Buchanan and husband George of Sherman, Texas; daughter YuVonne Burnett of Denison, Texas; son Lamar Waller and wife Susan of Leonard, Texas; nephews Ivan Buchanan and wife Patty of Sherman, Texas, Tim Buchanan and wife Pam of Elbert, Colorado, and Christopher Caldwell and wife Tabatha of Sanford, North Carolina; sister-in-law Teenie Caldwell of Cameron, North Carolina; daughter-in-law Wilma Waller of Sherman, Texas; grandchildren David Waller and wife Kristina of Frisco, Texas, Becky Hartgraves and husband Fred of Garland, Texas, Tona Galindo of Sherman, Texas, Kurt Burnett and wife Audra of Denison, Texas, Charles Burnett and Debra Burnett; 16 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; 4 great nephews; 2 great nieces; 2 great-great nephews and 2 great-great nieces; and her dear lifetime friend Dr. Phyllis Mercer, who spent many hours caring for Hope during her hospital stay the past several months.

The family deeply appreciates the many years of care and friendship of Dr. John F. Harper, Dr. David Harper and Peter J. Kunkle P.A. of Texas Health Presbyterian Heart and Vascular Group.

Pallbearers are Justin Buchanan, Jonathan Buchanan, Kurt Burnett, Dustin Burden, Austin Burnett, Colten Noe, Benjamin Waller and Zac Hinton. Honorary Pallbearers are Ted Satcher, Rick Slakey, Jim Woods and Chuck Melugin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Lighthouse Church, Denison, Texas or the Sherman Public Library. The online register book can be signed at waldofuneralhome.com.