Elna Louise Russell

Elna Louise McCorkle Russell of Smithville died Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in Houston. She was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Aug. 5, 1925. Mrs. Russell graduated from the Saint Agnes Academy in Houston, and from the Gulf Park College for Women in Long Beach, Mississippi. She married Joseph Lewis Russell Jr. on Oct. 21, 1944, and after World War II, returned to Texas to devote her life to raising their four daughters. Her husband’s career in the oil business took the family up and down the Texas coast and they lived in Houston, High Island, Angleton, Beeville, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Friendswood and Smithville. She was a hospital volunteer in Victoria, Corpus Christi and worked at the hospital in Smithville well into her late 80s. After her husband’s retirement in 1984, they moved to their ranch in Bastrop County where they raised cattle and entertained grandchildren. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Pin Oak in Bastrop County. Mrs. Russell learned to fly, and earned her pilot’s license while in college, an early indication of her lifelong appreciation for thrill rides, especially the roller coaster. She was a football fan, and loved the Texas Aggies. She liked the Dallas Cowboys, at least until they fired Tom Landry. She also suffered from FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out -- on a good party or even a juicy piece of gossip. Fortunately, she did not miss out on a family Gender Reveal/Valentine/New House Tour party and a family dinner party just days before her passing. She was an active boyfriend advisor to her granddaughter and involved in many facets of all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s lives. She enjoyed traveling, needlepoint, camping, entertaining and celebrating everyone’s birthday. Mrs. Russell was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, Joe, and a grandson, Chad Carrow. She is survived by her four daughters, Linda (Joe) Henkel of Kingsville and Rockport, Susan (Ted) Kanke of Denton, Patty (Rod) Woodard of Charlotte, North Carolina and Peggy (Steve) Holz of Waller, as well as eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and two new ones that are on the way. A memorial service, through Bastrop Providence Funeral Home, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Pin Oak in Bastrop County.