Marinelle W. "Nell" Bowles' Obituary
Devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Marinelle W. “Nell” Bowles, passed from this life into her eternal rest on Thursday afternoon, December 31, 2015. Although she had been experiencing some health problems for the past year or so, her passing was unexpected. She was residing at the Whiterock Court senior living center in Dallas at the time of her death. Funeral arrangements are being coordinated through Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX, 75243 (restlandfuneralhome.com). A time of visitation for family and friends is planned on Tuesday evening, January 5, 2016, at Restland Funeral Home, from 6:00-8:00 PM. A private graveside interment service will take place in the Wildwood Gardens section of Restland Cemetery on Wednesday, January 6, at 10:30 AM. The public memorial service for Nell Bowles will be in the worship center of the Gaston Christian Center located at 8515 Greenville Ave. (Greenville & Royal Lane), Dallas, TX., 75243. All friends, family, and loved ones are welcome to attend the memorial service and the reception in the fellowship hall at the conclusion of the service. Born as Marinelle Williams to Ed and Nora Gregg Williams, on November 12, 1927, in Birmingham, Alabama, “Nell” (as everyone came to know her) was one of three children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Bill Williams, of Birmingham, and her devoted and loving husband of 45 years, Ed Brooks Bowles in 1993. Nell treasured her children, grandchildren, their sweet spouses, and their growing families. She is survived by her four children, which include son and daughter-in-law Ron & Suzanne Bowles, of Plano; daughter and son-in-law Becky & Buddy Nelson, of Anniston, AL; daughter and son-in-law Suzie & Brad Prizer of Frisco; and daughter and son-in-law Laura & Mike Roby of Beaumont/Sour Lake, TX; her eight grandchildren – Bill Nelson and his wife, Anna; Brook Nelson Woodward and her husband, Tommy; Emilee Prizer Norman and her husband, Ross; Blake Prizer and his wife Emily; Jake Roby; Brandon Prizer; Ty Roby; and Allie Roby. And, of course, Nell was devoted to her five great-grandchildren: Maddie Nelson, Will Norman, Caleb Norman, Iva Grace Nelson, and Brooks Woodward. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Peggy & Maurice Rogers of Birmingham, her sister-in-law Ann Williams, of Birmingham, and numerous other nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Nell Bowles was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from Ensley High School. She and her family were active in the historic Hunter Street Baptist Church. Nell attended Carson-Newman College in Tennessee where she met her future husband, Ed Brooks Bowles, during their freshman year. After a brief courtship, they married and began a life journey of love, service, and ministry. Ed surrendered to the ministry and began to prepare for the life and role of a Baptist church pastor; Nell became a dedicated pastor’s wife, faithfully serving alongside him in every place of calling and service. Nell completed her college education and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 1950, they moved to Fort Worth, TX, for Ed to complete his college education at Texas Wesleyan College and begin his seminary studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. During their years of pastoral ministry together they served several Texas Baptist churches including the First Baptist Church of Euless, First Baptist Church of Decatur, First Baptist Church of Henderson, Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler, First Baptist Church of Beaumont, and completed their ministry service at the Gaston Ave./Gaston Oaks Baptist Church of Dallas. Not long after his retirement in 1993, Ed Bowles passed away suddenly, and Nell began a new phase of service in her life. Nell remained active at Gaston Oaks Baptist Church where she took on many new roles of service and responsibilities related to church leadership and missions administration. Nell was a highly respected Bible teacher and taught a Sunday School class for many, many years over the course of her life. She was very devoted to her class members, always remembering them on their birthdays and special occasions. Nell was particularly devoted to missionary support through the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and its various organizations, through mission service trips, and other aspects of mission service. In recent years, Nell was active in the formation of the Gaston Christian Center (formerly the Gaston Oaks Baptist Church) which is now home to a wide range of community mission services and international/ethnic church communities. Nell was also a respected leader in Texas Baptist denominational life serving on several committees and boards including service as a trustee of the Baptist Standard, and several terms as president of the Baylor University Hospital Auxiliary. Nell loved spending time with her family and friends, staying busy with church activities, and over these past two years, enjoying her new life at the Whiterock Court community where she regularly played Bingo and 42 with new friends. She made it a point to be up and out doing something every day. She loved to travel with family and friends and took many opportunities to see God’s beautiful world. An avid reader, Nell enjoyed her mysteries and inspirational books, many of which she would checkout from the Gaston Oaks church library each week. Nell Bowles was a woman of deep faith who loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved life, but had no concerns or reservations about death and was ready to respond to God’s call to come home to be reunited with her dear family who had gone on before her, her loving husband, and her Lord. Her family and friends mourn her absence but celebrate her life. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. The family requests that memorial gifts in tribute to Nell Bowles and her life be made to the Gaston Christian Center, 8515 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX., 75243.
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