Maribel Woodfin

Maribel Holland Woodfin, aged 74, died surrounded by family on November 27, 2016, at her home in Hidden Glen Senior Community in Salado, Texas, after a brief struggle with cancer. Maribel was born May 28, 1942, in Erick, Oklahoma, the daughter of Clarence Marshall and Mary Belle Montgomery Holland.

Maribel was raised in Lubbock and Littlefield, Texas, where she spent a great deal of happy time on the Montgomery family farm. Her family affectionately knew her as Snookie and she was doted upon by all. Throughout her life she spoke fondly of her childhood and was very close with both her mother and her maternal grandmother, Lillie Ora Files Montgomery, as well as many of her Montgomery aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Maribel’s striking beauty was noted from early childhood. Tall, blonde, and long-legged, she was voted Football Sweetheart at her high school and later was a trunk show model for Neiman Marcus. Her outer beauty could only be matched by her inner capacity for love and kindness.

In 1958, she married Jack Ulmer and though the marriage was not destined to last, it did produce what she called her three greatest accomplishments - her children: Kathleen Michelle, Wesley Clark, and James (Jay) Marshall. They were raised in Big Lake, Texas, by Maribel and Bill Woodfin. She loved being a mother. She never missed a sporting event and was always involved in everything her children did. She definitely had her hands full with those Woodfin kids and had to be on top of her game. The laughs her children gave her were her favorite stories to recount. Her devoted parenting took a new turn when, following the untimely death of her son, Wesley, in 1984, Maribel became a parent at heart to his sons, Richard Wade and Rowdy James.

Maribel worked her entire life, from her time at Pool Well Service to running Papa Joe’s to her time with the Rio Vista Independent School District. She was actively involved in her community and always a social butterfly. Maribel was a sharp wit with an even sharper raised eyebrow and a lover of any card game, most especially bridge and canasta. Everyone wanted her as a cards partner, because she rarely lost. She enjoyed golf for a significant portion of her life. Maribel always had a dog or two to spoil, from her poodles, Scooter and Bogie, to her Labrador Retriever, Rocky. She also played and taught piano for many years, and loved to garden. Though she never met a flower she did not love, yellow roses and daisies were her favorites. She loved to read and passed that love of reading to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her favorite books were Gone With The Wind and To Kill A Mockingbird, but she never passed over a good romance novel.

Above all else, Maribel was known for her love of children. No one who knows her can remember a time when she wasn’t taking care of at least one baby, from her own babies to her grandbabies and great grandbabies and untold other beloved children along the way. Over the years, she took care of countless kids. Her affection wasn’t restricted to infants and toddlers - she loved big kids too. Her grandchildren all affectionately called her Nonny and so did all of their friends. She was an honorary grandparent to many.

Maribel is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Marshall and Mary Belle Holland; her brothers, Marshall Holland and John Paul Holland; her sons, Wesley Woodfin and Jay Woodfin; her daughter-in-law Cheryl Anderson Woodfin; and her grandson, Jackson Wengier.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Michelle Woodfin Small and husband John; her granddaughters, Lindsay Oliver and husband Aaron, Lauren Grimes Barnes and fiance Brian Highlander, Jaclyn Woodfin-Wengier and husband James, Jenilee Woodfin and fiance Oscar Robledo; her grandsons, Christopher Grimes, Wade Woodfin and wife Natalie, Joshua Grimes and wife Joanna, Rowdy Woodfin and wife Kimberly; her great grandchildren, Chelsei, Faith, Gabriel, Steven, Yasmine, Alexander, Emilee, Jetta, Makenzie, Jude, Cooper, Delilah, Daxton, and KateLynn; her sister-in-law, Novelene Holland; her daughter-in-law, Cheryl Hacker; John Grimes and wife Jana; Steve Woodfin and wife Mary; Sue Woodfin Botkin; and many treasured family members and friends.

Flowers may be sent to Grace Gardens Funeral Home, Waco, Texas, which has been trusted with arrangements. Visitation and viewing will be held at 1 PM with services following at 2 PM Friday, December 2, 2016, at 300 Ritchie Road, Hewitt, Texas. Burial to follow at 3 PM Saturday, December 3, at Littlefield Cemetery in Littlefield, Texas.

Funeral Service

2:00 PM ,Friday, December 2, 2016
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter - Day Saints
300 Ritchie Road Hewitt, TX, Mclennan 76643

Graveside Service

3:00 PM ,Saturday, December 3, 2016
The Littlefield Cemetery
Littlefield, TX

Visitation

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ,Friday, December 2, 2016
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter - Day Saints
300 Ritchie Road Hewitt, TX 76643