Nell Painter

Weda Nell (Holley) Painter ascended into Heaven by the grace of God on September 23, 2020, while residing at Wesley Woods Rehabilitation and Care Center, Waco, Texas.  Memorial services will be held at Clifton Funeral Home on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.  Memorial graveside service will be held immediately thereafter at the Clifton Cemetery with Rev. Pat Cummings officiating.

Nell was born and raised by parents, Lee and Thelma (Josey) Holley, on the long-time family farm at Spring Creek Community, between Iredell and Meridian, Texas.  She graduated from Iredell High School in 1954 and, shortly after, married her soulmate, Bill Painter, on July 23, 1954, in Clifton, Texas.

Nell and Bill resided in Clifton, Texas, where they raised two children, Sheree and Mark.  Nell was a stay-at-home mother of the times, always involved in church, family, and community.  She was a devout member of the First United Methodist Church of Clifton and the United Methodist Women where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and supported her husband Bill in his administrative efforts within the Church.  In the late 1960’s, Nell founded the first Girl Scouts Troup in Clifton.  For many years, Nell was a kind extension of her husband in summer baseball league, in public leadership in the community and in his service in the Army National Guard.

Back in the day, Nell, while a good servant to many, started a part-time career, working on Wednesdays at the Clifton Cattle Commission with “Dink” Henderson, Jane Patton, and others.  To complete her part-time work week, she delivered prescription drugs for Colvert’s Pharmacy to the elderly at 65 cents an hour.  Her faith, kindness, and compassion for others far exceeded her part-time duties.

On December 16, 1975, Nell lost her husband and lifetime companion at the early age of 41 years due to a 20-month bout with leukemia.  Nell remained faithful and steadfast by his side until his death at Wadley Blood Center in Dallas, Texas.

Upon Bill’s death, Nell continued life’s journey as a mother and a father figure.  She began her full-time career working at the local veterinarian clinic with Dr. Browder and Dr. Hampe as secretary/veterinarian technician assistant for many years.  Subsequently, Nell changed her career path by working for Brown & Root, Inc., as a parts clerk and document specialist at the nuclear plant in Glen Rose, Texas, until downsizing occurred.  In March of 1990, Nell finalized her career at L3 Communications as a document control specialist until she retired in March of 2002.

After retirement, Nell chased her passion for antiques.  For years, she had antique booths in Clifton, McGregor, and Stephenville, Texas.  While in transit, Nell always stopped by the Spring Creek farm to care for her aging parents until their passing.  Nell also loved gardening, sewing, fishing, music, and dancing.  Most of all, she loved life and all those lives that she touched, no matter how dire the cards were that life dealt her.  Weda Nell had deep faith and kindness which allowed her “to live life as it should be and not the way it really was.”

Nell Painter is preceded in death by her mother and father, Lee and Thelma (Josey) Holley; a brother, Robert “Bob” Holley; and her husband, Bill Painter.

Nell Painter is survived by brother, Frank Holley and wife Joanne of Lakeside Village, Texas; sister Reba Lovell of Clifton, Texas; daughter, Sheree Bergen and husband Doug of Hewitt, Texas; son, Mark Painter and wife Teresa of Valley Mills,  Texas; four grandchildren, Dana Case and husband Tim of China Spring, Texas, Joshua Painter and wife Katelyn of Buda, Texas, Kasi Painter of Austin, Texas, and Jeremy Painter of Valley Mills, Texas; four great-grandchildren, Hayli, Emma, Weston, and Jude.

Please donate memorials to Spring Creek Cemetery Association, Iredell, Texas; First United Methodist Church of Clifton, Texas; or the Alzheimer’s Association.

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