Doris "Lynn" Marilyn Oxley McEnelly

Lynn as she was widely known, was born in Losantville, IN on May 28,1930 to Joseph and Margaret Deardorff McEnelly.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandra McEnelly of Austin, TX, sons James McEnelly Jr (Minerva) of Sugar Land, TX and Mark McEnelly (Cherri) of Buda, TX, grandson, James McEnelly III of Los Angeles, CA and granddaughter, Analia McEnelly of Katy, TX.

She is also survived by a brother, Owen (Lothair) Oxley (Marsena) of Parker City, IN and a sister, Rozanne Abbott (James) of Columbus, IN and many nieces and nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Lt. Colonel James M McEnelly Sr, parents Joseph and Margaret Deardorff Oxley, her in-laws, James L and Ruth McDonnell McEnelly, and Margaret McEnelly.

Lynn graduated from Losantville High School where she was a cheerleader in her senior year. Her parents sold the grocery store they owned, and moved to Hagerstown, IN. She remained with her cousins to complete her final year. After graduation with her class of 13, she moved to Indianapolis, IN, and entered the School of Nursing at Methodist Hospital, to become a surgical nurse. While there, she decided to enter the United States Air Force to see world, and moved to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. While at Sheppard Air Force Base, 1st Lieutenant, Lynn, met and married 2nd Lieutenant, James M McEnelly, a navigator in the United States Air Force stationed in Waco, TX. After they married, He used to tell people that she “ordered him down the aisle.” She retired from the Air Force and together, along with their children they lived abroad, and around the United States, as Jim continued his career. They eventually settled in the Austin, TX area, where Lynn returned to nursing at Shoal Creek Hospital until her retirement.

After he retired from the military and eventually teaching, Lynn and Jim enjoyed traveling, along with forty-five years of season tickets and travel for the Texas Longhorns Football games. About four years ago, Lynn gave up her beloved season tickets, at 89 yrs old, but only when the journey to and from the stadium became too much for her. Lynn has enjoyed ceramic classes, a wine tasting group, playing Bridge, various activities in her retirement community and visits with her children and grandchildren.

Lynn was full of life and was always ready to go when asked. She was often asked about life at 93 yrs and what’s her secret. She always said that she just kept putting one foot in front of the other! She was always saying and doing things that left her family laughing. She was up for anything at anytime and once on a cruise ship, she became so popular that people started yelling, hey grandma when they saw her about the ship. When Lynn, her daughter, Sandi and her daughter-in-law, Cherri, would get together, they would have so much fun and laughter, that they often lost track of time. Lynn was very well loved by everyone she met. She never knew a stranger! She loved living in her apartment at Village on the Park, where she was an Ambassador and she was always thrilled when they showed her apartment to future residence. Whenever she was doing errands, doctors appointments, etc, we always had to work lunch or dinner into the adventure. You never knew what kind of day you were going to have with Lynn, but you could be sure that it was going to be exciting and fun! She has often been described as a shining light, a bright light and a guiding light. She was so many amazing things to everybody who knew her! She was everybody’s mom, sister, aunt, grandma.

The family would like to thank all the home healthcare workers, Hospice, the staff at Encompass and Brookdale rehabilitation facilities. All of her friends and family for their love, support and encouragement. Because of you, we got to have our wonderful mom and grandmother and our guiding light in our lives a little longer.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Saint Ignatius Martyr Church’s Food Bank, it’s near and dear to her heart. Lynn was a member of Saint Ignatius Martyr Church for over 50 years.