Marcelyn (Marcie) Louise (Hirt) Batla

Marcelyn (Marcie) Louise (Hirt) Batla, age 89, passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2023 surrounded by her loving family at her home in St. Lawrence, Texas. A rosary will be recited at 6:00pm, Sunday, June 18, 2023 and the Funeral Mass will be at 10:00am, Monday, June 19, 2023. Both services will be at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church, St. Lawrence, Texas. Interment will follow at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery.
To be known by Marcie was to be loved by her. She had a passion for her faith, family, flower garden and getting to know people. This fact brings us comfort because we realize she has already made many new friends and has caught up with old ones in Heaven surrounded by the most beautiful flower garden of her dreams.
She was born December 23, 1933 to Frank and Alma (Niehues) Hirt in Olfen, Texas. Soon after her birth, she and her family moved to Wall, Texas where she attended school and earned the nickname “PeeWee.” While there, she met Delmer Batla in 1941 when they were in the first grade. She took on the task of helping her future husband learn english. They stayed sweethearts all through school. She graduated from San Angelo High School in 1951. While in school she played as a catcher on the softball team, was a member of the tumbling team, a member of the Tom Green County 4-H Club (archery was her favorite,) and acted in a number of plays for the PTA, all while being an excellent scholar.
After graduating, she married Delmer Batla on September 21, 1953 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall, Texas. Shortly after getting married, Marcie and Delmer moved to St. Lawrence Texas in 1954. They spent these early years traveling between St. Lawrence and Wall all while starting a family together. In 1963 they purchased the St. Lawrence Gin where Marcie worked as the office manager until 2005. She was a member/president of the St. Theresa Altar Society, Choir Director/member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church choir, member of the Concho Valley Czech Heritage Society and served as a Glasscock County 4-H Adult Leader. She did all of this while raising eight wonderful children. She loved spending time with them attending and working at stock shows and raising swine. Marcie was always in on the action whether it be swimming in the lake, sitting in the deer blind or fishing, she was always there. What fun times these were along with many memories made.
After the kids were grown and gone, she enjoyed singing in the Havlak-Batla Polka Time Band and traveling all over the state of Texas, all while managing the band. She enjoyed cruises with her husband and children and even saw things she never knew she would see. Many summers were spent at Lake O.H. Ivie with her kids and grandkids. She was also a big supporter of the Bearkats and spent countless hours traveling and attending all the sporting events of her children and grandchildren.
In these last years her beautiful flower garden has brought her so much joy. We will all remember her sitting outside on the patio in the mornings, drinking her coffee and eating her toast while visiting. She was truly the glue that bonded the whole family together. We all love you so much and want to say thank you for being such a wonderful, hardworking and kindhearted wife, mother, and grandmother. Goodbye for now, but be sure to save us a spot next to you in your beautiful Heavenly flower garden.

Survivors include: Husband of 69 years, Delmer Batla; seven children and their spouses: Cathy (Steve) Livingston, Mike (Denice) Batla, Kenny (Vicki) Batla, Larry (Becky) Batla, Garry (Darla) Batla, Nancy (Mike) Hillger, Richard Batla and son-in-law Richard Little. 17 grandchildren; Cory (Laura) Batla, Max (Carrie) Batla, Bradly Batla (friend- Brittini), Ryan J. (Lauren) Batla, Keith Batla (friend-Sydney), Justin (Emily) Hillger, Brian (Jessica) Hillger, Blayne (Hailey) Batla, Bryson (Erica) Batla, Brooklyn Batla (friend-Hudson), Misti (Luke) Cherry, Kyndra (Chris) Fulbright, Leslie (Tony) Passalacqua, Ciara (Ryan) Bearden, Alicia (Matt) Quagliana and Lakota Everett (friend-Tanner); 25 great-grandchildren, with two on the way; Her brother and sister-in-law Eugene and Dorothy (Droll) Hirt; sister-in-law Elsie (Kadlacek) Hirt, and sister Annette (Hirt) Frerich.
Marcie was preceded in death by: her parents; brothers and sister-in-laws, Sydney (Sue Kleypas) Hirt, Bernie (Jean Droll) Hirt; brother Daniel Hirt; sister Jeanette (Hirt) Kohutek; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy (Hirt) deHass (Bill); brother-in-law Hubert Frerich; daughter Linda (Batla) Little; grandson Boyd Batla.

The family would like to especially thank Marcie’s caregiver, Jacque Linn Verastegui. Her love, support, skills and dedication were a blessing not only to Marcie, but to the whole family.

Marcie’s pallbearers include her grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers include her granddaughters.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to; Glasscock County Junior Livestock Scholarship Fund, St. Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department, or your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online Condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Marcelyn (Marcie) Louise (Hirt) Batla, please visit our Tribute Store.