Mary Nell Ball

Mary Nell Ball, age 86, passed away on March 13, 2023. She was born on August 10, 1936, in Yoakum, Texas. A proud native Texan, Mary Nell graduated from Yoakum High School in 1954. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Brownsville, where she met the love of her life, Robert “Bobby” J. Ball, Jr. They were married in January 1956 and shared 61 wonderful years together.

Above all her accomplishments, Mary Nell considered motherhood her greatest achievement. She cherished her role as a mother and poured her heart into raising her daughters with love, faith, and patience.

Mary Nell was passionate about Texas history, genealogy, and preserving family heritage. She loved helping others research their ancestry, often spending hours assisting friends and relatives in uncovering their family roots. In retirement, she and Bobby enjoyed taking road trips throughout Texas and beyond to explore archives, historic sites, and small towns in pursuit of genealogical discoveries.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, San Jacinto Chapter, where she served as Chapter Registrar from 2001 to 2003. She was also a member of the Ann Poage Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her faith was an important part of her life. She was a devoted member of Westbury Baptist Church, where she taught first grade Sunday School and served in other areas of children’s ministry for many years. After moving to Sugar Land, she became a member of Sugar Land Baptist Church and was actively involved in her adult Sunday School class as well as several ladies’ Bible study groups.

Mary Nell was known for her warmth, kindness, and devotion to her family. She was a wonderful cook, and each Christmas she delighted in sharing homemade cookies with family, friends, and neighbors. After Bobby’s passing, she taught herself to crochet and returned to sewing, creating beautiful quilts for each of her daughters and grandchildren and her brother, Bill.

Mary Nell is survived by her daughters, Lori Owens and husband Kenneth, and Tina McCall and husband Andrew; her grandchildren Kathleen Owens, Meagan Owens, Madeline McCall, and William McCall; her brother William Paul Mobley, Jr.; her nieces Marcia Mobley Brickman, Sherri Mobley Wells, Jan Mobley, Suzanne Mobley, Faith Mobley Robbins; and her nephews Russell Mobley and Chris Griffin, as well as many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Ball, Jr.; her parents, William Paul Mobley, Sr. and Mary Christine Hinds Mobley; her brothers Infant Mobley, James Allen Mobley, Alex Byron Mobley, and Carl Ray Mobley; and her sister-in-law Jane Cooney Mobley.

Mary Nell will be remembered for her deep faith, her generous spirit, her love of history and genealogy, and the many ways she enriched the lives of those around her. Her legacy lives on in her family, her church community, and all who were blessed to know her.