Myrtle Nelle (Myrt) Atkinson

Myrtle NeIle (Myrt) Atkinson, of Lufkin, was born January 9, 1914, in Nacogdoches, Texas, the daughter of the late Willie May (Bowler) and Walter Ford Wilson. She passed away Saturday, March 29, 2008, at the age of 94, in a local hospital.

Myrt had lived in Lufkin for 63 years. She was a homemaker who loved to garden. Her yard was always the most beautiful in the neighborhood. She sold her home and moved to the NechesHouse Assisted Living Facility once she was no longer able to maintain her yrd. Myrt was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Peyton Mathis; granddaughters and their husbands, Jane Marie and Shaune Warner, Joe Nelle and Jeff Southern; granddaughter, Judy Lynn Guerra; grandson, James L. Holland; great-grandchildren, Courtney Guerra Brashear, Trevor Guerra, Hunter Guerra, Jake Southern, Jessica Southern, Dalton Warner, Drake Warner, Jameson Hilliard and Lee Hilliard. She is also survived by one sister, Gene Cassiday, of Des Moines Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Julius C. (J.C.) Atkinson on July 10, 1988; daughter, Judy Holland; grandson, James Kirk Holland; granddaughter, Lauralyn Mathis Hilliard; as well as 4 sisters, 5 brothers and her parents.

The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to her wonderful companions/caregivers, Brenda Ross Simmons, Marilyn Ross Williams, Mary Freeman, Leatrice Ross, and the staff of The Neches House.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Myrt's memory to the Lauralyn Mathis Hilliard Scholarship Fund, do the Lufkin High School Alumni Association, P. 0. Box 150837, Lufkin, Texas 75915; First Presbyterian Church, 6O7 Jane-Way, Lufkin, Texas 75904; or to the charity of your choice.

Services for Myrt were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2008, in the Elwyn M. Gipson Memorial Chapel in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park, with Reverend Jacqueline Hannan officiating. Interment followed in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.