Rixie Ellen (Williams) Connell

Rixie Ellen (Williams) Connell passed into the loving arms of her savior Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Midland, Texas.  She was born on May 22, 1948 in San Angelo, Texas to Ocie and Mary Williams.  Her future father-in-law took her and her mother home by ambulance from the hospital.

Rixie attended San Jacinto Elementary, Washington and Eddison Jr. High and graduated from San Angelo Central High School in 1966.  In her senior year of school, she was coach Emory Bellard’s student secretary.  After graduation she attended San Angelo business college.  She started working at Johnson’s Funeral Home a week before Easter in 1967 where she met her soon-to-be husband Bobby Connell that had returned home from college.  On August 22, 1968 they had their first date and became engaged on Thanksgiving of 1968.  She married Specialist 4 Bobby Connell on November 8^th, 1969 in San Angelo.  She returned to Ft. Lewis Washington with Bobby until his discharge from the Army.  She helped support Bobby on his return to college until his graduation in 1972 from the University of Texas in Austin, TX.  They moved to Midland where Bobby coached tennis at Lee High School and Rixie was a homemaker.  Two daughters, Christy, and Jennifer were born in 1973 and 1978 making their family complete.  She supported her girls in everything they did and took hundreds of pictures of gymnastics, diving, and soccer.  Rixie was the ultimate soccer mom/grandmother cheering for her daughters, then grandkids Haylie, Hayden and Hadley and now her great grandsons, Brecken and Harrison.  She rarely missed a game, whether soccer or football and was a pro at taking fabulous action shot photos at the games.

Rixie was a lady of many talents and an artist in the truest sense.  She taught painting classes at her home and partnered with Paint Dauber and Sunshine Girls for several years.  She was an astute businesswoman, she was part of Expressions Gift Shop, one of the founders of the Ivy Cottage, and a partner in Once Upon a Time and then worked part time with Anita Goudeau Fine Jewelry.  She had hand painted stools that were in the Governor’s Mansion and the White House that belonged to the Bush twins.  After retiring, she got into genealogy doing tons of research that produced many binders full of family pasts of her and Bobby’s lineage.

Rixie loved her family and relished all the events in her children’s lives, delighting in her grandchildren’s successes, and totally grateful and proud of her family posting the latest photos of their adventures.  She was a steadfast and loyal friend to so many.  Her talent and creativity will be sorely missed.  She loved bunco, crafting, being with family and friends and traveling overseas.  She loved to travel with friends and traveled to Europe close to a dozen times loving each time.  She loved Christmas and always hosted fun gatherings.  Her extensive Christmas decorations were a delight to all.  Friends and family knew to get those Coca Cola items for her.  Her latest project was assisting and memorializing Bobby’s involvement in the Permian Basin Honor Flight honoring veterans.

Rixie is survived by her husband, Bobby Brooks Connell, her daughter Christy Conner, son-in-law James Conner, daughter Jennifer Connell, grandchildren Haylie Conner and fiancé Jerry Garcia, Hayden Conner and wife Haylee, Hadley Conner and fiancé Hian Lujan, great grandchildren Brecken Garcia, Harrison Lujan, Mason Conner, Harleigh Lujan, Brooks Joe Conner and baby girl Garcia (due summer of 2024), all of Midland, sister in law Fred Mae Connell of Houston, nieces Connie Connell Beam of Houston and Kari Elizabeth Corley of Atlanta.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ocie Lee and Mary Ellen Downing Williams, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Brooks Avery and Celestia Stockton Connell, and her brother-in-law T. Duane Connell.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, 3800 N. Big Spring St., Midland, Texas from 6:00pm-8:00pm.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm, Thursday, April 4, 2024 at Fairmount Cemetery, 1100 W. Avenue N, San Angelo, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Permian Basin Honor Flight, info@permianhonorflight.org, 432-803-0542.

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

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