Jean Eldridge Nix

Jean Nix, an amazing, vibrant and loving woman who can also be remembered as a survivor of many challenges including a major airline crash in 1988, joined her husband and her Savior in Heaven on August 19, 2017. Visitation with the family will be in the Garden Room at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home on Thursday, August 24 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. A private graveside service will follow on Friday, August 25. Jean was born October 24, 1933, in Benton, Mississippi to James Calvin and Mickie Elizabeth Eldridge. She was the youngest of nine children. Siblings Beatrice, Inez, Ive, Pauline, Esther, Jim, Sis and Phillip all preceded her in death. When she was sixteen, Jean and her brother, Jim moved to Texas. She attended the University of Houston and began a career in the fashion industry. She was fashion coordinator for Foleys in Houston before joining Lichenstein’s of Corpus Christi as an assistant to Miss Marie Petyo of Wanamaker’s New York. She met her true love and soulmate, Frank Nix, in Corpus Christi, Texas soon after that. They married in February 1956 and were on their way in December to Dallas, Texas when their first child, Angie was born. Another child, Scott, was also born in Dallas. Frank and Jean then decided to change their focus from Frank’s traveling career with IBM to a more stationary life in Waco. Another child, Pat, was born after their move to Waco. Jean was a wonderful wife to Frank and as he progressed in his real estate career which included elected offices in and out of state, she was always there to support him. She always had time for her children and was active in all of their activities. When any one of the children had an upcoming test, she would say “I have positive thoughts for you today.” She was a pathfinder in Waco and was honored for it, being instrumental in the founding of Keep Waco Beautiful and of the Freedom Frolic Fourth of July Celebration as well as other projects in the community. She had an infectious laugh and if you walked into a room of partying people you would hear her laugh above everyone else’s. Even though she could not cook or sew anything when she married, she became an amazing hostess as well as a creative and talented seamstress, making clothes, quilts and slipcovers for every season. She will be missed by her children, Angie Carter and husband Gary, Scott Nix and wife, Robin, Pat Nix and wife, Jan; by her grandchildren Stacy Carter, Jean Wright and husband, Brad, Amanda Nix and Jacob VandeVeegaete, Bradley Nix, Morgan Nix, and Lauren Nix, Tiffany, Steven and Jordon Martin; and her five great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Ridgewood Country Club who treated her like a queen for decades, especially Eddie, Leonard, Vertney, and Muriel. She missed seeing them several times each week during these past few years. Special thanks to Joe Thompson, Jean’s hairstylist, for a near lifetime of friendship. The family would also like to thank caregivers Annette Walker, Sheila Simpson, Ayana Landrum, and Texas Home Health Hospice for their tender loving care. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www. WHBfamily.com.