Sidney “Elaine” Fallis Obituary

 

78 Years Old

Elaine Fallis, currently a resident of Wichita Falls, TX, passed away Saturday August 1, 2026 at All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth, TX after a short illness surrounded by family. She was born Sidney Elaine Greathouse to Braxton Frank Greathouse, Jr. and Ruth Delores Greathouse (Strebeck) in Portales, NM.
She grew up on a farm near Causey and Dora NM attending both schools and graduating from Dora High School in 1965. After graduating from Dora, Elaine attended Eastern New Mexico University where she met Jerre Don Fallis from Fort Sumner, NM and they married on July 8, 1967. They made their home in El Paso, TX where Elaine continued her college studies at Texas Western University. They then moved to Portales, NM where Elaine completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Psychology and her Master’s Degree in English. She then worked as a social worker until 1971 when Jerre joined the U S Air Force.
Air Force assignments took her all over the world. First to Lubbock, TX, then to Sumpter, SC, Germany, Korea, Virginia, and finally to Wichita Falls, TX. While maintaining her responsibilities as an Air Force wife at these many assignments, she also worked as a school teacher and school librarian.  In Germany she taught Basic Skills and Education to young army troops.  In Korea she taught English as a second language to Korean employees of companies doing business in the United States, and freshman English for Big Bend Junior College to Army and Air Force personnel working toward a degree.  While stationed in Virginia she was a homemaker and Mom for daughter Amanda. When Air Force “needs” took her to Wichita Falls, TX, she taught at the Texas State Jail in Jacksboro until Jerre retired from the Air Force.
Elaine loved music, art, history, antiquities, and any odd or interesting items she came across. While in Germany she took advantage of European travel to see castles, tour museums, old churches, and anything else that piqued her interest or was related to those things she loved. There were cathedral trips to England to tour as many cathedrals (Church of England) as possible. You would need more than two hands to count them all! Trips to France for museums and churches. Trips to Spain to travel in their magnificent mountains and, yes, churches and museums. In Korea, travel to their cultural sites and beautiful countryside. In Virginia, museums and American history everywhere. She loved opera, so
there were trips from Wichita Falls to New York and Los Angeles to attend operas. Her home is a story book of her travels with items from all the countries she was able to visit at Jerre’s various Air Force assignments.
Elaine was preceded in death by her father and mother Frank and Delores Greathouse, an infant son, Jeffrey Brian Fallis, and beloved Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents. Survivors include husband Jerre Fallis, of the home, Amanda Elaine Fallis and husband Kristopher Alexis Dass of New Orleans, LA, a sister, Cheryl Flagg (Greathouse) and husband Kenneth W. Flagg of Steamboat Springs, CO, a brother, Neil Frank Greathouse and wife Katherine Elaine Greathouse (Roberson) of Willow Park, TX, a beloved Aunt, Marjorie Strebeck of Clovis, NM, cousins, nieces, a nephew, other relatives, and many friends from her Air Force life.
A graveside service for her will be held on September 12, 2026 at 10 AM New Mexico time at Inez Cemetery in Inez, NM. Search for Inez, NM on Google maps if you wonder where it is!
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorials in memory of Elaine be made to: The Inez Cemetery, ATTN: Joe Harth, 2054 S Roosevelt Rd F, Rogers, NM 88132.
All arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary, 500 E Third St, Portales, NM 88130, (575) 356 4455. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, visit www.wheelermortuary.net.