“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth more than rubies…Her
children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” –
Proverbs 31: 10, 28
Heaven gained another saint on Thursday, February 20, 2014, as MaryNell King Donnell entered the gates and walked the streets of gold. MaryNell King was born to Joe and Nettie Pearl Buck on their home place east of Hardy, Texas, on June 19, 1918. She attended Hardy School and was a starting player on the basketball team. She married the love of her life J.C. Donnell on December 21, 1933. They had two wonderful children, Leonard Joe and MaryAnn. J.C. and MaryNell worked hard and made it possible for both their children to continue their education and earn college degrees. This extended for two more generations as they also made college a reality for their two grandsons, Terry and Gary, as well as their three great-granddaughters.
The Donnells lived on acreage along Willie Wallie Creek where J.C. and MaryNell cleared and planted much of the land by hand. In 1954 they were awarded the “Most Progressive Farm Family” of Montague County then went on to win the “Master Farm Family of Texas” award given by “Progressive Farmer” magazine the next year. J.C. and MaryNell received numerous other farm and ranching awards over the years. They were one of the founders of the Blue Bonnet Hills Memorial Cemetery in Collinsville, Texas. In 1973, the Donnells moved to town in Saint Jo, Texas, where they became very involved in the Methodist Church in Saint Jo as well as many civic groups. MaryNell was room mother for both children every year, FFA and FHA mother, and a Camp Fire leader. She was president of the Blue Bonnet Study Club, and a member of Twentieth Century Club, Garden Club, and Home Demonstration Club. She was Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in Saint Jo as well as Sunday School teacher and choir member for several decades along with being a member of the Wichita Women’s Forum.
When you needed to find MaryNell, you could almost always locate her in a couple of in places…her flower beds with her gorgeous roses and hydrangeas, in her kitchen making yet another delicious meal, or at the local Dairy Queen having coffee and with her numerous friends and telling a good joke. In their 75 years together, J.C. and MaryNell traveled to all fifty states and several continents with friends and family. Their last excursion took them on a family cruise to Mexico as they celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary. They took top honors on the cruise for being the best “newlywed” couple on the ship! They loved watching the Mavericks and the Rangers play ball, and above all, they loved seeing their family members happy. MaryNell moved to Presbyterian Manor in 2009 following J.C.’s death. She dearly loved her nurses there.
MaryNell is preceded in death by her devoted husband, J.C. Donnell; her beloved son Leonard Joe Donnell; and her sisters Joann King Mock and Louise King Roberts. She is survived by her daughter MaryAnn Donnell Cunningham of Wichita Falls; grandson Terry Donnell Cunningham and great-granddaughter Laura Elizabeth Cunningham of Stillwater, OK; grandson Gary Dean Cunningham, wife Shelly Cardwell Cunningham and great-granddaughter Kelise Deann Cunningham of Wichita Falls; and great-granddaughter Callie Jo Cunningham of Lubbock.
Funeral services for Mary Nell Donnell, age 95 of Saint Jo, will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church of Saint Jo with Rev. Larry Kruger and Rev. Larry Coleman officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Park Cemetery in Saint Jo under the direction of Scott Funeral Home of Saint Jo. There will be a visitation following the burial at the church. Pallbearers were: Don Vogel, Tommy Langston, Michael Roberts, Joe Roberts, Homer Kirk and Jess Kirk. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, Presbyterian Manor, or the charity of your choice.
Heaven gained another saint on Thursday, February 20, 2014, as MaryNell King Donnell entered the gates and walked the streets of gold. MaryNell King was born to Joe and Nettie Pearl Buck on their home place east of Hardy, Texas, on June 19, 1918. She attended Hardy School and was a starting player on the basketball team. She married the love of her life J.C. Donnell on December 21, 1933. They had two wonderful children, Leonard Joe and MaryAnn. J.C. and MaryNell worked hard and made it possible for both their children to continue their education and earn college degrees. This extended for two more generations as they also made college a reality for their two grandsons, Terry and Gary, as well as their three great-granddaughters.
The Donnells lived on acreage along Willie Wallie Creek where J.C. and MaryNell cleared and planted much of the land by hand. In 1954 they were awarded the “Most Progressive Farm Family” of Montague County then went on to win the “Master Farm Family of Texas” award given by “Progressive Farmer” magazine the next year. J.C. and MaryNell received numerous other farm and ranching awards over the years. They were one of the founders of the Blue Bonnet Hills Memorial Cemetery in Collinsville, Texas. In 1973, the Donnells moved to town in Saint Jo, Texas, where they became very involved in the Methodist Church in Saint Jo as well as many civic groups. MaryNell was room mother for both children every year, FFA and FHA mother, and a Camp Fire leader. She was president of the Blue Bonnet Study Club, and a member of Twentieth Century Club, Garden Club, and Home Demonstration Club. She was Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in Saint Jo as well as Sunday School teacher and choir member for several decades along with being a member of the Wichita Women’s Forum.
When you needed to find MaryNell, you could almost always locate her in a couple of in places…her flower beds with her gorgeous roses and hydrangeas, in her kitchen making yet another delicious meal, or at the local Dairy Queen having coffee and with her numerous friends and telling a good joke. In their 75 years together, J.C. and MaryNell traveled to all fifty states and several continents with friends and family. Their last excursion took them on a family cruise to Mexico as they celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary. They took top honors on the cruise for being the best “newlywed” couple on the ship! They loved watching the Mavericks and the Rangers play ball, and above all, they loved seeing their family members happy. MaryNell moved to Presbyterian Manor in 2009 following J.C.’s death. She dearly loved her nurses there.
MaryNell is preceded in death by her devoted husband, J.C. Donnell; her beloved son Leonard Joe Donnell; and her sisters Joann King Mock and Louise King Roberts. She is survived by her daughter MaryAnn Donnell Cunningham of Wichita Falls; grandson Terry Donnell Cunningham and great-granddaughter Laura Elizabeth Cunningham of Stillwater, OK; grandson Gary Dean Cunningham, wife Shelly Cardwell Cunningham and great-granddaughter Kelise Deann Cunningham of Wichita Falls; and great-granddaughter Callie Jo Cunningham of Lubbock.
Funeral services for Mary Nell Donnell, age 95 of Saint Jo, will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church of Saint Jo with Rev. Larry Kruger and Rev. Larry Coleman officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Park Cemetery in Saint Jo under the direction of Scott Funeral Home of Saint Jo. There will be a visitation following the burial at the church. Pallbearers were: Don Vogel, Tommy Langston, Michael Roberts, Joe Roberts, Homer Kirk and Jess Kirk. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, Presbyterian Manor, or the charity of your choice.
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