Mary Nell Pirtle

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A Celebration of Life for Mary Nell (Moore) Pirtle, 93, of Belton, will be held at 3:00 PM, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton.  Burial will follow at North Belton Cemetery.

The family will receive friends for visitation one hour before the service, beginning at 2:00 PM.

Mrs. Pirtle died peacefully, Friday, June 14, 2024, in a Belton Long Term Memory Cary Facility.

Mary Nell was born, November 18, 1930, in Temple, Texas.  She was the second child of six born to Tom and Eva Moore.  She was extremely loyal to her parents and siblings, Bob Moore, Louise Hughes, Tommy Ray Moore, Jonita Smith and Ann Carol Griffith.

She met the love of her life, a good ol' boy from Salado, Texas on a blind date.  They married at the First Baptist Church in Belton on July 28, 1952.  Joe was immediately sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Rolla, Missouri during the Korean War.  They met so many dear friends while living there, but their hearts remained in Bell County.

They made their home in Belton where they were faithful members of the Belton Church of Christ and raised their daughters Paula and Jane.   Mary Nell received her teaching degree at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor.  She taught at Tyler Elementary and Leon Heights.  She loved her students and always believed in and fought for them, with many of them, even recently, saying how much they loved Mrs. Pirtle, sharing memories of their time in class with her.

After her retirement she became active in many service organizations, including President of Wednesday Club, the Contemporaries, Jr. League and her beloved bridge groups.   She loved games of any kind, playing countless hours with her grandchildren; dominoes, spades, checkers, go fish, 42 and bridge.  Maybe even a little video poker!

Mary Nell enjoyed traveling with Joe and his retirement from BISD to the Mediterranean, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.  But her true joy was found in her children and grandchildren,  She took them fishing, always helping to bait a hook or grab a perch!  Together she and Joe attended countless activities of their grandchildren, from choir concerts to sporting events, always their biggest cheerleader.

But through it all, Mary Nell loved and cherished her family most of all.  She was blessed to watch her grandchildren grow up and give her six great-grandchildren.

Mary Nell was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 67 years, Joe Milton Pirtle, and four siblings, Bob Moore, Louise Hughes, Tommy Ray Moore and Jonita Smith.

She is survived by her daughters Paula Warnke (Carl) of Bulverde, Texas and Jane Dominguez of Belton, sister, Ann Carol Griffith, six grandchildren, Travers Wade Warnke, Casie Jo Warnke, Jay Garret Warnke, Adam Pirtle Dominguez, Robert Bret Dominguez, and Joseph Cole (Coleboy) Dominguez, great-grandchildren Jack Travers Warnke, Eli Wade Warnke, Lily Anne Warnke, June Kay Warnke, Hazel Cate Dominguez and Pearl Jo Dominguez.  Also many, many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the wonderful staff of Stoney Brook of Belton.  They loved mother dearly and Enhabit Home Health, especially Kaitlin Green.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation, Joe and Mary Nell Pirtle Scholarship, 400 N. Wall Street, Belton, Texas 76513 or the Belton Church of Christ 3003 North Main Street, Belton Texas 76513.