Mary Nelle Figart

Mary Nelle Dudley Figart Born May 3, 1943, San Antonio, TX Died May 29, 2016, Austin, TX Survived by: Husband – Jack Thomas Figart, Bastrop, TX. United in marriage July 13, 1962. Daughter – Julie Faye Figart Beard, Austin, TX Son-in-law – Daryl Ray Beard, Austin, TX Granddaughter – Cheyenne Skye Beard, Bastrop, TX Sister – Anita Louise Dudley Norris, Elgin, TX Sister in spirit – Delores Beard (Daryl’s mom, Cheyenne’s other granny), Driftwood, TX Preceded in death by: Father – James William Dudley Mother – Nelle Irene Mason Dudley Sister – Patricia Dudley Lockart Member of: River Valley Christian Fellowship, Bastrop, TX Bastrop Senior Center, Bastrop, TX Loblolly Pine Needlers Quilters Our motto in marriage: Treat every day like a honeymoon! Honeymooners treat each other with love, dignity & respect. Honeymooners don’t use the phrase “I told you so” or belittle their spouse either in person or to others. Honeymooners go out of their way to express their love for each other whether it be in words, an unprompted heartfelt hug or in deeds. Her passions: Family – Mary Nelle was happiest when surrounded by her loving family! Her daughter, Julie, was adopted in 1974 at 4 weeks of age. To make that event extra special, Julie was born on Mary Nelle’s birthday! The road between her house and the homes of her parents and sisters was well traveled. When Julie & Daryl presented her with a beautiful granddaughter in 2008, she felt blessed beyond words. She knew she would love her granddaughter dearly, but never imagined how much joy she would bring. Faith – She loved the worship services at River Valley where she always received a lift instead of a lecture. She really looked forward to the comradery and fellowship with her community group. Quilting – She inherited a love of quilting from her mother and grandmother. Our home has a room dedicated to her quilting passion. When family or friends would have a special occasion such as a wedding, birth, or retirement, Mary Nelle would look on that as justification for starting another quilt. In the days before her passing, she was putting the finishing touches on an appreciation quilt for her granddaughter, Cheyenne, to give to her teacher. Travel – Jack and Mary Nelle enjoyed many forms of travel RV’ing from coast to coast and Canada car trips to all 48 continental states, Mexico and Canada Fly/drive trips to Mexico, Alaska & New Zealand Group tours to London, Paris and Amsterdam, as well as US destinations and Mexico Cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska & the Panama Canal. Dancing – Taking lessons in Country, Ballroom and Round Dancing really put a spark in our marriage. Dance lessons taught us some valuable lessons not only on the dance floor but in our daily lives as well: It taught us to move in harmony. A marriage will function much more smoothly if both spouses are moving in the same direction with a common goal to operate as a single entity. While it is the man’s job to lead, it is not to dominate. His goal is to present his partner in the most elegant & graceful way possible. It taught us to communicate & trust our partner. One little misstep can lead to crushed toes. Some final memories of Mary Nelle: Mary Nelle had a tradition of making a quilt for each of granddaughter Cheyenne’s teachers for presentation at the end of the school year. She had been working diligently to finish the quilt for her 2nd grade teacher, but death claimed her before she could finish binding the edges. Tracey Hendrix, her cousin’s oldest daughter and star protégé, remembered the nearly finished project and completed it in time for presentation before end of school. Despite the generational difference, Tracey and Mary Nelle formed a very special bond that brought each much fun, love and happiness! Mary Nelle’s surviving sister, Anita Norris (who is a widow and 7 years her junior), moved here from Texarkana to work with special needs adults at Down Home Ranch, Elgin and to spend more time with her sister. Among Anita’s special skills is giving great foot rubs, which Mary Nelle thoroughly enjoyed whenever they got together. On the night of Mary Nelle’s passing, the hospital allowed the family some time to say our final goodbyes, which Anita proceeded to do by giving Mary Nelle one last foot rub. When Anita remarked that she wished she had some lotion, the nurse slipped out of the room and returned a moment later with a tube of lotion and Anita resumed giving her a proper foot rub. Angels in heaven could take lessons from Anita on how to give awesome foot rubs! What a blessing it has been to have “Tabby” (Cheyenne’s other granny, Delores Beard) in our lives! She has helped so much during Mary Nelle’s illness by moving in and taking over household duties such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and chauffeuring both Cheyenne & Mary Nelle! For our 50th anniversary in 2012, Mary Nelle convinced Jack that they needed to renew their wedding vows. Not realizing that wedding vows had an expiration date, Jack went along and agreed to sign up for 50 more years. Mary Nelle, I’m so grateful we had 54 years to make wonderful memories together and I so hoped to add so many more in the next 46. I’ll miss you so much, but am so blessed to have a king’s treasury of love and joyful times stored away to draw upon! A private viewing was arranged for family members who couldn’t make it to the hospital to say their final farewells. Each person placed a special memento into the coffin to accompany Mary Nelle on her final journey. Her daughter, Julie Beard, and son-in-law, Daryl Beard, placed a family photo on the pillow beside her head. Granddaughter, Cheyenne Beard, placed a beautiful flower on her chest. Cheyenne’s other granny, Delores Beard, left her a quilt magazine containing an article about the next quilt she wanted to make. Husband, Jack, brought her glasses so she could read her magazine. We each then penned a few parting words on the lid of the coffin.