Mary Nell (Crosby) Israel

Mary Nell (Crosby) Israel, age 84, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, September 10 after battling pancreatic cancer with great endurance, courage, selflessness, and faith for two and a half years.

Mary was born on December 8, 1937 in Longview, TX to Lloyd and Bonnie (Duggan) Crosby. Mary was the youngest of three children and the only daughter. Mary began her education in a little one-room schoolhouse in Bulu, TX and completed her training in elementary education at Abilene Christian University in 1960.

Mary never did learn it all, as she spent the next 35+ years in the classroom, teaching primarily kindergarten and then pre-K. “Mrs. Israel’s” teaching style was similar to that of her Mother’s: strict but beloved.

Mary was the “pretty young school teacher down the road” who was wooed and won by a good ol’ boy from Levelland. Mary and Curtis were married on June 9, 1963 and were married for 53 years until his passing in 2017. Like true “Israelites,” Mary and Curtis lived many places during their years together, including Clovis, NM; Carlsbad, NM (three times!); Centralia, IL; New York City, NY; Houston, TX; Lubbock, TX; Tulsa, OK; Denver City, TX; Friona, TX (twice!); and Midland, TX. Wherever they lived, Mary and Curtis were always actively involved in their church home. Mary often taught the “cradle roll” class and kept the babies mesmerized by singing about Jesus and the Bible.

Mary’s all-time favorite “student” was her one and only granddaughter, Hannah. From pre-K through sixth grade, “Granny and Papa” would pick up Hannah each day after school, and Granny would go over the homework with Hannah. Most afternoons after the work was done, they would “play school,” with Hannah teaching this time! Granny was not shy about telling her daughters that Hannah was her favorite!

Although she was especially fond of the “little ones,” Mary loved people of all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds! She would stand for hours – in the aisle of the grocery store, across the neighborhood fence, in the church foyer – visiting with friends, new and old. She carried with her their stories and prayed for their struggles.

Mary’s love for people was also expressed in her faithful correspondence to friends and family. She was an extremely gifted writer who also had textbook-perfect penmanship. Her letters always began by recounting Hannah’s current adventures and always ended with words of encouragement, complete with a Scripture chosen just for that friend in that moment.

Mary’s “love language” was service. She was always the first to bring a casserole to a sick friend or to volunteer to wash dishes after a fellowship luncheon. She loved to surprise her family and friends with things she thought they needed, but a gift to her would always prompt the same response, “You shouldn’t have gotten me that! I don’t need a thing!”

Mary was especially blessed by the “NESTers,” a precious group of widow ladies from church who formed friendships that will last well past eternity. It was not known whether she enjoyed eating out or playing dominoes more, but she sure looked forward to Mondays!

Mary was quirky – decked out in her signature color of bright orange lipstick and fingernail polish. She was always ready with a joke, although many times, the punchline eluded her. One Christmas, she was feeling especially herself. After a gift was opened, she would sneak to the back room and rewrap it, complete with a bow and name tag. When the lucky recipient would open it (again,) Mary would exclaim with great delight, “Now, you have TWO!”

Mary loved to make people laugh, intentionally or otherwise. She was joyful, kind, compassionate, silly, strong, and generous. She held herself and others to a high standard.

Above all, Mary loved her Lord. Her well-worn Bible, which was missing its front cover and held together by packing tape, testified to her love of His Word and to her passion for writing His words on her heart. She usually sat towards the back of the church service, but her singing voice carried throughout the sanctuary. Whether cooking, cleaning, driving, or just sitting in her chair resting, she could frequently be found singing to herself and to her Lord. Her beautiful voice and the sound of her praises could be heard inside the gates of heaven long before she arrived.

Mary was a faithful Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She kept the two greatest commandments well: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

She would want us to remind you, as she did her doctors and nurses, friends and family, passing acquaintances and anyone who would listen: “I am blessed. God always takes care of me. I don’t worry about anything because I know God. He is faithful, and His promises are true.” One of her dear friends said, “She showed me that what we go through is nothing if we trust in God.”

Mary is survived by daughter Amy (Israel) Penland, son-in-law Hayes Penland, and favorite granddaughter Hannah; and daughter Bonnie Israel – all of Midland, TX; brother John (and Marlene) Crosby of Radnor, PA; sister-in-law Yvawn Crosby of Littlefield, TX; brother-in-law Chester (and Sherry) Israel of Levelland, TX; step-sister Pat Gottlob of Lubbock, TX; and step-brother Bennie Williams of Dallas, TX.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Bonnie Crosby; step-mother, Willie Gertrude (Williams) Crosby; brother, James Duggan Crosby; and nephew, Tommy Gene Crosby.

Services will be held at Fairmont Park Church of Christ on Thursday, September 15 at 2:00pm with visitation and dessert to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the educational and mentoring work of Opportunity Tribe at 3310 W. Wadley Dr., Midland, TX 79707. (https://opportunitytribe.org/)

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

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Mary Nell (Crosby) Israel, please visit our Tribute Store.