Nita Pirkle

Nita Pirkle, 76, of Hewitt, died on July 18, 2016, after spending a happy morning with her family the previous day. While she will be missed by her family and friends, Nita has been reunited with her beloved husband of over fifty years, Gary.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 23, at 10:00 a.m., at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, Dr. Leslie King officiating. Visitation will be held there on Friday, July 22, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Nita was born in Meridian, Texas, on January 10, 1940, to Henry and Jewell Baldridge. When she was three, her mother died, and her father moved the family to Waco. Several years later, her dad married Mary Jordan, and Nita gained a devoted stepmother, Mimi.

Nita graduated from University High School in 1957 and attended Tarleton, where she met a young man from McCamey, Texas, who wore a big black cowboy hat. Gary Pirkle won her heart, and they married on December 27, 1960, in Waco, at Beverly Hills Baptist Church.

Nita and Gary began married life with Nita teaching in Fort Worth until Gary finished school and Marla was on the way. They moved to Beverly Hills and taught at Midway under M.T. Rice. Their son, Neal, was born, and Nita devoted herself to raising Marla and Neal and providing a warm and caring household for her family. Nita, Gary, Marla, and Neal shared many happy times with their friends in Beverly Hills and Hewitt watching their families grow.

Nita’s grandchildren were her special joy. Marla married Mark Jaynes and they had three children, Lauren, Garrett, and Katelyn. Nita became “G”, Gary became “Pops” and together they were a large part of their grandchildrens’ lives. G and Pops lived next door to Marla and Mark and shared a lot of fun times. Neal married Kim Markum, and they added Graham, Riley and Nash to the lucky grandchildren that G and Pops enjoyed the rest of their lives. They went to many orchestra concerts, baseball and basketball games, and dance recitals. Nita and Gary also enjoyed Baylor basketball and the Texas Rangers. After Gary died in 2011, Nita was a loving G to her family until the very moment of her final illness.

In lieu of flowers, her grandchildren request donations to the Lorena Education Foundation or the Midway Education Foundation.

Visitation

Chapel Service