Pearl Marzelle Ellis Rich

FORT WORTH -- Pearl Marzelle Rich, 94, passed away Thursday, April 14, 2011, surrounded by family in Fort Worth. Funeral: 2 p.m. Monday in White's Chapel of Memories, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford. Interment: Central Cemetery, Parker County. Visitation: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Pearl was born to Edgar and Willie Ellis in Weatherford. She grew up in Central community, where she met and married her childhood sweetheart, Charles Rich. They were married for 62 years. Marzelle retired from the Container Corp. in the early 1960s to pursue her energetic interests in gardening and her love of cooking. She had a green thumb and could make anything grow. A relaxing day for her was mowing the grass and tending her vegetable garden and flowers. She decided she had retired too early, so she went to work for Tandy Co. After her second retirement, she attended TCC taking painting lessons to develop her innate artistic talents. She produced many beautiful works of art. Marzelle was a lifelong Baptist and member of Southcliff Baptist Church at her death. Her enduring passion was to live a true Christian life. She became a proficient "self-taught" scholar of the Bible through hours of study and reading. She lived an exemplary life by participating actively in Christian ministry, sharing the gospel, teaching children and adults, supporting a World Vision orphan and supporting various evangelical efforts through service, prayer and offerings. Her great desire was to see all her family come to salvation through Jesus Christ and to live productive Christian lives. Marzelle leaves a wealthy legacy. Known for her beautiful smile, she was hardworking, sacrificial and loved by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; her only sibling, Henry Ellis; husband, Charles McKinley Rich; sons, Charles Eddie Rich and Donald Eugene Rich; and grandsons, Les Walker and Ricky Walker. Survivors: Daughters, Virginia Mae Fenner and husband, Don, and Bettie Carol Woolery and husband, Ron; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren, upon whom she doted; and a large extended family. White's Funeral Home Weatherford, 817-596-4811