In Loving Memory

Jerry (McGinnis) Budell

Jerry (McGinnis) Budell
March 27, 1933
November 15, 2019
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Obituary

Heaven has another angel.

Jerry Elaine McGinnis Budell, 86, joined her beloved Milton on Friday, November 15, 2019.
There will be a Visitation/Memorial to celebrate Jerry’s life from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019 at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Born March 27, 1933 to Claude S. and Mearl Alice Grey McGinnis in Chelsey, Oklahoma; the second of three daughters. She talked about the days of her youth living in various oilfield camps where her dad worked and the experiences of poverty during that depression era. All three girls had red hair and freckles and were teased often.

Jerry often shared that those early experiences of poverty and teasing gave her compassion and the insight to understand what many of the people whose lives intertwined with hers were going through. She was a champion for doing the right thing even if it wasn’t the popular choice. Jerry was a mentor for many and the one you went to talk to during rough times. She constantly told her children to remember the Golden Rule and to be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. She loved to say, “Bad thing happen when good people do nothing”. Jerry was quite the teacher’s dream student being not only good but smart. She was double promoted in middle school allowing her to graduate Jeff Davis High School early. She continued her love for learning throughout her life and pushed her kids and grandkids to also see and seek the wonders of the world around them. In high school, Jerry was a twirler at Jeff Davis her last two years. She was asked to enter and subsequently won the Miss Houston beauty pageant in 1950.

Jerry and her sisters had three neighbor boys (the Budell boys) and several other neighborhood friends who all remained friends until their deaths over 70 plus years with Lorene Henn being the last one still with us.

One of those Budell boys treated Jerry pretty mean and made her carry his and his neighborhood girlfriend Joyce’s schoolbook when they walked home in junior high. He’d buy Joyce an ice cream, but not Jerry. Then Jerry became a teen in high school and her beauty began to shine. Then that Budell boy had a change in attitude and told the other boys he was going to marry Jerry someday with each of them on notice not to try to date her.

That boy was Milton and that someday happened on April 27, 1951 in Houston, Texas. All she talked about after his death was joining him in heaven again someday.

Jerry and Milton were famous for their parties and family gatherings filled with fun, laughter, domino and card games. Their home was often a temporary home for those in need.

Three children are proud to call her mom. Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren knew the joy of spending time with and learning from Grandma Jerry and Paw Paw Milton. Jerry regretted she was not going to be able to see her ninth great-grandchild in March but said she’d see him with Milton from heaven. You could often see Jerry reading, working brain teaser word and number puzzles and she loved to color. The great grands loved to color with her.

Jerry work in accounting at Suburban Lumber Company in Houston prior to moving to Austin and working for the IRS then on to Brenham where she began her career with St. Jude Hospital. Advancing from accounting to hospital administrator, Jerry was proud to be the first “civilian” to hold that position in the Sisters of St. Frances diocese. Jerry held that position until her retirement and then became Director of the Trinity Hospital Foundation until her second retirement. She served on various community boards with The Brenham Animal Shelter being her favorite.

She is preceded in death by her soulmate Milton Darrell Budell, sisters Claudene Herman and Billie Jean Cherry, nephews Buddy, David and Ricky Herman, niece Yancee Herman Nanning, parents Claude and Mearl McGinnis, parents in law Joe and Frances Budell, son-in-law Larry Wayne Schulz, and by many dear family and longtime friends.

Jerry is survived by daughters Jody Schulz and Patti Harl, son Darrell and daughter-in-law Jodie. Her grandchildren are Matthew Polk, Courtney Schmitt (Milton), Nichole Carr (Desmond), Savannah Gutierrez (Matthew), Hastings and Harrison Harl (Casey), Skylar Schulz (Kayla) and Machelle Harl. Her great-grandchildren Loren Bohi, Addyson Polk, Alexis Thomas, Garrett Polk, Caydence Carr, Gentri and Gage Gutierrez, Ty and Treage Harl and Evelyn Rieck. Her nieces and nephews Timmie Sue Budell, Stacie Jones (Russell), Janie Budell, Rachel and Kyle Nanning, Lloyd Cherry and dear friend Krystal Malek.

Donations in honor/memory may be made to the Baylor Scott and White Foundation, The Brenham Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice.