Official Obituary of
Essie Lee (Arnold) Welk
June 20, 1943 ~ March 7, 2025 (age 81) 81 Years Old
Essie Welk Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Essie Lee "Nanny" Welk announces her passing on Friday, March 7, 2025 at ContinueCARE within Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, TX at the age of 81. Viewing only will be held from 2-4pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at East Texas Funeral Home.
Essie Lee/Nanny was born on June 20, 1943 in Carthage, TX to Carl "Buddy" and Bertha Mae Arnold. She enjoyed going to garage sales, decorating, sewing, fishing/hunting (you could hear her yelling across the lake when she had a fish on the line). She also enjoyed being outside, working in her yard/flower beds. She owned her own resale shop (Clothes from the Heart and Nanny's Resale) for many years that she took much pride in. She was an avid collector of many things that included pigs, angels, and flowers. She loved the colors pink and hunter green. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandkids and great grandkids. She enjoyed having Christmas and Easter holidays at her house.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 46 years, Cotton Welk of Shelbyville, TX; son, Anthony Wilburn and wife Kim of Gladewater, TX, daughter, Belinda Thornton and husband Ronald of Chalk Hill, TX; 5 grandkids, 6 great grandkids; brother, Timmy Arnold of Henderson, TX; sisters, Joy Brumley of Beaumont, TX, Bessie Mae Stanley of Henderson, TX; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Bertha Mae Arnold; sons, Rodney Allen, Gerald Dean, and Tony Allen Wilburn; brother Jimmy Arnold and great granddaughter, Kaylee Wilburn.
Essie Lee/Nanny was born on June 20, 1943 in Carthage, TX to Carl "Buddy" and Bertha Mae Arnold. She enjoyed going to garage sales, decorating, sewing, fishing/hunting (you could hear her yelling across the lake when she had a fish on the line). She also enjoyed being outside, working in her yard/flower beds. She owned her own resale shop (Clothes from the Heart and Nanny's Resale) for many years that she took much pride in. She was an avid collector of many things that included pigs, angels, and flowers. She loved the colors pink and hunter green. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandkids and great grandkids. She enjoyed having Christmas and Easter holidays at her house.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 46 years, Cotton Welk of Shelbyville, TX; son, Anthony Wilburn and wife Kim of Gladewater, TX, daughter, Belinda Thornton and husband Ronald of Chalk Hill, TX; 5 grandkids, 6 great grandkids; brother, Timmy Arnold of Henderson, TX; sisters, Joy Brumley of Beaumont, TX, Bessie Mae Stanley of Henderson, TX; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Bertha Mae Arnold; sons, Rodney Allen, Gerald Dean, and Tony Allen Wilburn; brother Jimmy Arnold and great granddaughter, Kaylee Wilburn.
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