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Maebelle (Downes) Fisher
April 16, 1925 - January 3, 2018
Maebelle Downes Fisher, age 92, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018. Services will be held on Monday, January 8th, 2018 at Ward Street Church of Christ, Marlin, Texas, with ministers, David Johnson, Alan Ritchie and Frank Downes officiating. Burial will be at the Criswell Cemetery, near Ben Hur, Texas. Visitation will be held at Adams Funeral Home, Coleman Street, Marlin, Texas on Sunday, January 7th, 2018 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Mabelle was born on April 16th, 1925 in rural Falls County near Lott, Texas, to Claude Anderson Sr. & Mary Beatrice Downes. Maebelle attended schools in Lott and Criswell Community, graduating from Ben Hur at age 16. She entered the nursing Cadet training program during World War II, graduating from King's Daughters diploma nursing program in 1945. She worked at McCloskey General Hospital in Temple Texas currently the Olin Teague Veterans Hospital as well as Coryell Memorial Hospital in Gatesville Texas, before entering private duty nursing. She was married to George William “Bill” Fisher on October 7th, 1947, in Gatesville, Texas, for 37 years. In November 1947 they move to Tonasket, Washington, where first daughter was born. She returned to Texas in 1948 via a train, accompanied by her grandmother-in-law, Noni Huntington and small daughter, while her husband finished a job assignment and drove back to Texas with their belongings. Upon returning to Texas she cared for her baby daughter and farmed alongside her husband in the Criswell Community. They moved from the Criswell Community to Marlin in 1954. She later continued her nursing career at Torbett Hutchinson Smith Hospital in Marlin as well as private duty nursing until 1955, when she went to work at the Marlin VA Hospital, a career spanning over 35 years. Survivors include daughters, Judy Witherwax and husband, Michael, of Robinson; June Stevens and husband, Frank, of Hewitt, Jeanie Kuehl and husband, David, of Houston; sons, Larry Fischer and wife, Pamela, of Allen; William Fisher and wife, Becky, of Kosse; brothers, Frank Downes and Claude Downes, Jr. and his wife, Shirley; sister-in-law, Shirley Shunn and 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters expected in March.
Maebelle loved the Lord and remained a faithful servant throughout her life, being baptized in 1937 at Pool Creek near Cedar Springs, Texas. She served in many areas of ministry through the years, including: teaching children's Bible classes, all areas of VBS, taught in the World Bible School Program, served Meals on Wheels, supported many missionaries throughout the world. She also used her nursing skills to minister to members of the church and the community. She was a faithful member of The Ward Street Church of Christ, and also attended the new Road Church of Christ in Waco after her health begin to decline. She struggled with health issues the last years of her life but always had a smile to welcome you when you came to visit. One memory the nurses at Westview Manor shared was that Maebelle always loved to roll up and down the hallways in her wheelchair, not sitting still for long. They said during church service she would roll to the front and remain in place through the service. Maebelle was a very kind and gracious lady to her family and others as well, even as her health declined and she could not communicate effectively. Her inner life seem to draw others near her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Arms of Hope Children's Home, Medina, Texas or Sunny Glen Children's Home, San Benito, Texas, as Maebelle had a deep love for children.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Maebelle's grandsons: James Fisher, Dayne, Matthew and Zachary Fischer, Chad Kuehl, Brad Stevens and Sean Witherwax. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Croix and Lucas Dvorak, Kade Fischer, Conner Kuehl, Blake and Brayden Mathis and Haydn Witherwax.
Maebelle (Downes) Fisher
April 16, 1925 - January 3, 2018
Maebelle Downes Fisher, age 92, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018. Services will be held on Monday, January 8th, 2018 at Ward Street Church of Christ, Marlin, Texas, with ministers, David Johnson, Alan Ritchie and Frank Downes officiating. Burial will be at the Criswell Cemetery, near Ben Hur, Texas. Visitation will be held at Adams Funeral Home, Coleman Street, Marlin, Texas on Sunday, January 7th, 2018 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Mabelle was born on April 16th, 1925 in rural Falls County near Lott, Texas, to Claude Anderson Sr. & Mary Beatrice Downes. Maebelle attended schools in Lott and Criswell Community, graduating from Ben Hur at age 16. She entered the nursing Cadet training program during World War II, graduating from King's Daughters diploma nursing program in 1945. She worked at McCloskey General Hospital in Temple Texas currently the Olin Teague Veterans Hospital as well as Coryell Memorial Hospital in Gatesville Texas, before entering private duty nursing. She was married to George William “Bill” Fisher on October 7th, 1947, in Gatesville, Texas, for 37 years. In November 1947 they move to Tonasket, Washington, where first daughter was born. She returned to Texas in 1948 via a train, accompanied by her grandmother-in-law, Noni Huntington and small daughter, while her husband finished a job assignment and drove back to Texas with their belongings. Upon returning to Texas she cared for her baby daughter and farmed alongside her husband in the Criswell Community. They moved from the Criswell Community to Marlin in 1954. She later continued her nursing career at Torbett Hutchinson Smith Hospital in Marlin as well as private duty nursing until 1955, when she went to work at the Marlin VA Hospital, a career spanning over 35 years. Survivors include daughters, Judy Witherwax and husband, Michael, of Robinson; June Stevens and husband, Frank, of Hewitt, Jeanie Kuehl and husband, David, of Houston; sons, Larry Fischer and wife, Pamela, of Allen; William Fisher and wife, Becky, of Kosse; brothers, Frank Downes and Claude Downes, Jr. and his wife, Shirley; sister-in-law, Shirley Shunn and 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters expected in March.
Maebelle loved the Lord and remained a faithful servant throughout her life, being baptized in 1937 at Pool Creek near Cedar Springs, Texas. She served in many areas of ministry through the years, including: teaching children's Bible classes, all areas of VBS, taught in the World Bible School Program, served Meals on Wheels, supported many missionaries throughout the world. She also used her nursing skills to minister to members of the church and the community. She was a faithful member of The Ward Street Church of Christ, and also attended the new Road Church of Christ in Waco after her health begin to decline. She struggled with health issues the last years of her life but always had a smile to welcome you when you came to visit. One memory the nurses at Westview Manor shared was that Maebelle always loved to roll up and down the hallways in her wheelchair, not sitting still for long. They said during church service she would roll to the front and remain in place through the service. Maebelle was a very kind and gracious lady to her family and others as well, even as her health declined and she could not communicate effectively. Her inner life seem to draw others near her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Arms of Hope Children's Home, Medina, Texas or Sunny Glen Children's Home, San Benito, Texas, as Maebelle had a deep love for children.
Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Maebelle's grandsons: James Fisher, Dayne, Matthew and Zachary Fischer, Chad Kuehl, Brad Stevens and Sean Witherwax. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Croix and Lucas Dvorak, Kade Fischer, Conner Kuehl, Blake and Brayden Mathis and Haydn Witherwax.