Edith Irene Springer, longtime resident of Lenorah in Martin County and later, during retirement, resident of Big Spring, died on Monday, December 19, 2005, in a New Braunfels nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 22, 2005, at the First Baptist Church Chapel, Big Spring with Rev. Leandro Gonzales, Jr., pastor of Lenorah Baptist Church and Rev. J. B. Shewmake, Baptist minister, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park. The famiily will receive friends from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.She was born on March 23, 1915 on a ranch in Kent County, Texas and married Grover Marlin Springer on June 6, 1936. Grover preceded her in death on March 5, 1999, after celebrating almost 63 years of marriage. Mrs. Springer was a graduate of Big Spring High School and a graduate of Texas Tech with a major in Government and minors in History and English. In 1977, Irene retired after 26 years of teaching school in the Tarzan and Lenorah rural schools and later in the Grady School System. Since her retirement, she remained very active in Retired Teachers Organization, Stanton Study Club, Martin County Historical Commission, and Permain Basin Historical Commission. She and her husband, Grover, were long-time members of Lenorah Baptist Church (1936 to 1998) and then became members of First Baptist Church of Big Spring when they moved there in 1998. Survivors include two sons, Marlin David Springer of Spring Branch and Stephen McKay Springer of Salado; one sister, Hallie Sale of Midland; seven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.She was also preceded in death by two sons, Patrick Johnson Springer in December 1992 and Michael Jackson Springer in May 2005.The family requests memorials be made to the Martin County Historical Museum, P.O. Box 929, Stanton, Texas 79782.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
