Mabel Downes Fisher

Mabel Downes Fisher, age 92, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Visitation was held at Adams Funeral Home, 129 Coleman Street, Marlin, Texas on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Services were held on Monday, January 8, 2018 at Ward Street Church of Christ in Marlin, Texas, with ministers, David Johnson, Alan Ritchie and Frank Downes officiating. Burial was at the Criswell Cemetery, near Ben Hur, Texas. Maebelle was born on April 16, 1925 in rural Falls County near Lott, Texas, to Claude Anderson Sr. and Mary Beatrice Downes. Maebelle attended schools in Lott and Criswell Communities, graduating from Ben Hur at age 16. She entered the nursing Cadet training program during World War II, graduating from King’s Daughters diploma nursing program in 1945. She worked at McCloskey General Hospital in Temple, Texas currently the Olin Teague Veterans Hospital as well as Coryell Memorial Hospital in Gatesville Texas, before entering private duty nursing. She married George William Bill Fisher on October 7, 1947, in Gatesville, Texas, for 37 years. In November 1947 they moved to Tonasket, Washington, where their first daughter was born. She returned to Texas in 1948 via a train, accompanied by her grandmother-in-law, Noni Huntington and small daughter, while her husband finished a job assignment and drove back to Texas with their belongings. Upon returning to Texas she cared for her baby daughter and formed alongside her husband in the crystal community. They moved from the Criswell Community to Marlin in 1954. She later continued her nursing career at Torbett Hutchinson Smith Hospital in Marlin as well as private duty nursing until 1955, when she went to work at the Marlin VA Hospital, a career spanning over 35 years. Survivors include daughters, Judy Witherwax and husband, Michael of Robinson, June Stevens and husband, Frank of Hewitt, Jeanie Kuehl and husband, David of Houston; sons, Larry Fischer and wife, Pamela of Allen, William Fisher and wife, Becky of Kosse; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters expected in March; sisterin- law Shirley Shunn and brothers, Frank Downes, Claude,Jr.and wife, Shirley. Maebelle loved the Lord and remained a faithful servant throughout her life, being baptized in 1937 at Pool Creek near Cedar Springs, Texas. She served in many areas of ministry through the years, including: teaching children’s Bible classes, all areas of VBS, taught in the World Bible School Program, served Meals on Wheels, supported many missionaries throughout the world. She also used her nursing skills to minister to members of the church and the community. She was a faithful member of The Ward Street Church of Christ, and also attended the new Road Church of Christ in Waco after her health begin to decline. She struggled with health issues the last years of her life but always had a smile to welcome you when you came to visit. One memory the nurses at Westview Manor shared was that Maebelle always loved to roll up and down the hallways in her wheelchair, not sitting still for long. They said during church service she would roll to the front and remain in place through the service. Maebelle was a very kind and gracious lady to her family and others as well, even as her health declined and she could not communicate effectively. Her inner life seems to draw others near her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers were Maebelle’s grandsons, James Fisher, Dayne, Matthew and Zachary Fischer, Chad Kuehl, Brad Stevens and Sean Witherwax. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Croix and Lucas Dvorak, Kade Fischer, Conner Kuehl, Blake and Brayden Mathis and Haydn Witherwax. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Arms of Hope Children’s Home, Medina, Texas or Sunny Glen Children’s Home, San Benito, Texas, as Maebelle had a deep love for children.