Mary Nell Nix, another angel here on earth, is now at peace with the Lord. Mary Nell, 90, of Olney, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 23, 2018.  She was surrounded by loved ones.  Mary Nell was born on May 5, 1928 in Olney, IL, the daughter of Frederick Harry “Bud” and Eula Lee (Turpin) Fessel.  She married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Albert W. “Booner” Nix on February 7, 1948.  Booner passed away Labor Day weekend 16 years ago in 2002.  She worked side-by-side with him at Nix’s Ace Hardware.

Mary Nell was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, volunteer, neighbor and member of the Catholic church.  She loved to cook, bake, and sew everything from dresses and suits to curtains and tablecloths.  She also loved to dance, especially tap and the jitterbug.  You might find her dancing and singing in the kitchen to Frank Sinatra as she cooked.

Mary Nell also enjoyed travelling and was fortunate to visit many places in the U.S. and several foreign countries throughout her married life.  Mary Nell was an avid volunteer for RHM Hospital Auxiliary, and St. Joseph Ladies Auxiliary.  She was also a member of the Red Hat Society, various Bridge clubs and loved time with her coffee friends at Ophelia’s Cup.

Mary Nell is survived by her daughter, Chris (Jerry) Mullens of Olney, IL; sons, Phil (Beverly) Nix of Pembroke Pines, FL and David Nix of Monument, CO; daughter, Ann Sharma of Concord, NC; 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; sister, Lynn Barber of Lynchburg, VA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, stillborn child, Albert William Nix Jr., and brother, Harry Lee Fessel.

Memorials can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund or Hospice of Southeastern Illinois.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 31, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney, with a visitation beginning one hour prior.  Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney obituary & photo – August 23, 2018