Elwilda Noelle Patrick Hollingsworth
Elwilda Noelle Patrick Hollingsworth was born in Golden, Texas, on Oct. 24, 1919, to Isaac Mack and Lydia Mary Elizabeth Vaughan Patrick and passed out of this life on Nov. 23, 2012, at age 93 in Marble Falls, Texas.
In 1922, she moved with her father and mother to Houston, where they ran an A&P Grocery Store. A few years later, on Oct. 19, 1925, Noelle welcomed her sister, Maxine “Shug”, into this world.
In 1925, her family moved to Baytown, where her father worked in the shipyards and then as a mail carrier.
In 1935, Noelle graduated from Robert E. Lee High School with excellent grades. She went to work for a feed and grain store in Goose Creek and that is where she was working in 1937 when she was introduced by relatives to her future husband, Curtis George Hollingsworth. Curtis was born in Spicewood, Texas, to William Henry and Eva Evavangle Wood Hollingsworth and raised in Spicewood. He moved to Houston to work for his beloved brother Dewey in the clothes laundry business and then a short while later started working for Shell Oil in Deer Park.
Noelle and Curtis married in Houston on Sept. 18, 1938. They were married for 48 years until Curtis’ death in May 1986. After they married, they lived in Houston with their first child, Dewey Mack Hollingsworth, being born in 1945. In 1946, Noelle and Curtis moved to Deer Park, and their second child, Sherry Noelle Hollingsworth, was born in Houston in 1948.
Noelle and Curtis were involved in many things in Deer Park. Curtis served on the school board for several years and was a leader in the Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department. Both were active at First Baptist Church of Deer Park. Noelle taught Sunday school and played the piano for the entire children’s department. Curtis became a deacon in the church and sang in the choir.
In November 1958, Curtis left employment with Shell Oil, and he and Noelle purchased a small country store in Spicewood and for 49 years the store, Hollingsworth Corner, was under Hollingsworth ownership. From 1958 until 1976, Noelle and Curtis raised their two children and worked very hard in making Hollingsworth Corner a landmark of Spicewood and Burnet County. Curtis and Noelle retired in 1976, selling their interest in the store to their son Dewey.
Noelle and Curtis bought a travel trailer, joined a travel club and off they went for several years, touring various parts of the United States. After Curtis died in 1986, Noelle kept active participating in activities at the church and traveling some. She ended her church life as a member of Spicewood Baptist Church. As Noelle aged, her daughter, Sherry, lived with her and, with Sherry’s help, Noelle was able to live a rewarding life until her health deteriorated about a year ago.
Noelle was preceded in death by her husband Curtis, parents and infant sister Fay Ola. Her immediate surviving family include son Dewey Hollingsworth and daughter-in-law Donna; daughter Sherry Hollingsworth; grandchildren Lynn Hollingsworth, Leslie Collins and husband Stephen, Dr. Matt Schuessler and wife Keren, Chrystal Whiteside and husband Wade, Leticia Schuessler and Steven Hollingsworth; and great-grandchildren Hannah Collins, Colten Schuessler, Baily Schuessler, Elizabeth Schuessler, Mattilyn Schuessler, Jack Collins, Sam Collins, Braidon Whiteside and Haylee Whiteside.
A visitation was Nov. 25 at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373. A funeral service followed with the Revs. Bill McCormick and Max Copeland officiating. Interment was at Haynie Flat Cemetery. Pallbearers were Matthew Schuessler, Colten Schuessler, Baily Schuessler, Steven Hollingsworth, David Naumann and Wade Whiteside.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.