WEDA NELL (HOLLEY) PAINTER

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  • Weda Nell (Holley) Painter
    Weda Nell (Holley) Painter
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January 6, 1936 – September 23, 2020

Weda Nell (Holley) Painter ascended into Heaven by the Grace of God on Wednesday, Sept. 23, while residing at Wesley Woods Rehabilitation and Care Center, Waco.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at Clifton Funeral Home. Memorial graveside services will be held immediately thereafter at the Clifton Cemetery with the 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.

She graduated from Iredell High School in 1954 and shortly after, married her soulmate, Bill Painter, on July 23, 1954, in Clifton.

Nell and Bill resided in Clifton, 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

She was a devout member of the First United Methodist Church of Clifton and the United Methodist Women where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and supported her husband, Bill, in his administrative efforts within the church.

In the late 1960s, Nell founded the first Girl Scouts troup in Clifton.

With the assistance of Mary Anderson and other local mothers, the legacy remains a success today.

Nell and Bill both prospered in faith, love and kindness as they supported each other. For many years, Nell was a kind extension of her husband in summer baseball league, public leadership in the community and 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 parttime duties. On Dec. 16, 1975, Nell

On Dec. 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. Upon Bill’s death, Nell

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, until downsizing occurred.

In March of 1990, Nell finalized her career at L3 Communications, as a document control specialist, until she retired in March 2002.

After retirement, Nell chased her passion for antiques. For years, she had antique booths in Clifton, McGregor and Stephenville.

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; brother, Robert “Bob” Holley; and husband, Bill Painter.

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

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