Margaret Connell

Margaret Barnett Connell, formerly of Mexia and M Ranch of Oletha died Sunday, April 11, 2010 in Bryan following a short illness. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Mexia followed by burial at Mexia City Cemetery on April 13th at 11 AM. Rev. Ken Lane and Rev. Tom Prentiss will officiate. Margaret was born in Mexia on March 10, 1926 to Laura Oliver and Weaver Barnett. She graduated from Mexia High School and North Texas State Teacher's College. Following her graduation she came back to Mexia to work in the family business, Berry-Barnett Wholesale Grocery Company, where she met the love of her life when he came in to make a purchase for his mother's store. Margaret married Frank D. Connell on April 15, 1950. He died in 2007, but Thursday, would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. She worked closely with him in the grocery and ranching business. Margaret was a talented musician and played the piano and organ for her church for 56 years. She started as a 13 year old at Central Presbyterian which later merged with First Presbyterian and except for the four years during the war when she was off at college she was there to play as a volunteer anytime a musician was needed. Even during the 10 years she lived at M Ranch she was there when the church doors were open. Before the technological advances of cassette tapes, Margaret worked for songwriter, Cindy Walker and transcribed and transposed the music lead sheets for Cindy's songs to be sent on to Nashville. Margaret was a dedicated student of the Bible and was confident of her knowledge of our saving grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. She taught Sunday School and was active in Presbyterian Women at the local and Presbytery levels. She was one of the first two women elected to the office of ordained Elder in her church. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank Connell and her son, Weaver Connell. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-laws, Margaret Ann (Maggi) and Dr. John Focke of College Station, Laura (Libby) and Bill Freeman of Mission and daughter-in-law, Phylliss Connell of Mexia, as well as nine grandchildren: Joby Focke of Richardson, Scott and Jennifer Focke of Corinth, Meagan Focke and fiance Jesse Barr of Mankato, MN. Rhonda (Freeman) and Erley Jackson of Ft. Worth, Melissa (Freeman) and Kirby Macik of Burleson, Samantha Freeman of Bryan, Laura (Connell) and John Burger of Sealy, Katie (Connell) and Joel Anderson of Port Lavaca, and Will Connell of Mexia and fianc� Jessica Kelly of Midlothian. She also leaves behind six great-grandchildren and more to come in the next few months. Donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Mexia, the National MS Society or the Alzheimer's Foundation. Pallbearers will be Joby Focke, Scott Focke, Will Connell, Erley Jackson, Kirby Macik and Bubba Burger.