Juanita Arnold, known as “Nita” to most, was born June 14th , 1922, in Temple, Texas. She was the first child of Dessie Berry and Juan Henry Stock. She lived over 96 years and passed peacefully in Bryan, Texas, on July 23rd , 2018. She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Henry Lee Stock and Gerald Winifred Stock.
Except for a few early years in California, she grew up in Burnet and graduated from high school there. She lived some years in Port Arthur, Lampasas, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as almost twenty years in New Orleans, Louisiana. However, it was Austin, Texas, where she lived almost sixty years of her life.
Life and love brought Juanita two husbands who gave her three sons of whom she was immensely proud: Joe Allen McDougall of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who recently passed 2 days after she did on July 25 th , 2018; Larry Lee McDougall (wife Judy McDougall) of Claremore, Oklahoma; and Michael Wynn Arnold (wife Susan Arnold) of Bryan, Texas. They gave her seven granddaughters, one grandson, and two step granddaughters. Fourteen great-grandchildren, five step great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and one step great-great grandchild have followed since. She enjoyed closely sharing
in the lives of and caring for her grandchildren and accepted all “steps” as part of her family.
Family was very important to her. Through letters and occasional road trips she stayed connected to aunts and cousins in California and Arkansas. She thought it was important to make others feel valued and special; therefore, she never missed an occasion to send a birthday, holiday or other special occasion card to her long list of family and friends. She had elegant penmanship. Nita didn’t take anything for granted and was very appreciative of the smallest gestures of kindness shown to her. She was sentimental. Her advice to others was to, “always do the best you can, don’t give up and stay positive”. She understood that we are all works in progress. When recently asked she said, “to be nice to everybody” was the greatest lesson she wanted to pass on. She also had numerous friends and acquaintances, young and old who will greatly miss her and the way she shared herself with them.
Being “lady-like” was also something Nita thought was very important. She never wore an outfit that did not match from head to toe, including the accessories. She was a well-organized woman who could pack a purse, a glove compartment and a suitcase very efficiently. She always made her bed. She was mentally sharp and lived with intent and purpose. She always knew where things were and worked crossword puzzles almost daily. She was a great cook. She was an independent thinker and a “people” person who made a modest living working in retail sales nearly all of her adult years.
Nita was honored to be a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for a total of 68 years, being initiated on October 10 th , 1944 into the Burnet chapter #425. She served as Worthy Matron in 1978 and 1979 of the Austin Chapter #304 as well as a year each as secretary and treasurer later in the same chapter.
Nita lived her senior years at the Village Christian Apartments sponsored in part by Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin, Texas. She was happily engaged with this special community of friends and
neighbors and enjoyed participating in the numerous social events and activities it offered.
She spent a little over her last year at Generations Center for Senior Living in Bryan, Texas, where the staff was always kind and loving towards her. Her family extends a deep and warm “thank you” to all
who were involved in her care during this time.
