Irma Louise “Nannie” Schnelle
Irma Louise “Nannie” Schnelle
August 9, 1919 — September 4, 2017
Irma Louise “Nannie” Schnelle, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, was called home to her maker Sept. 4, 2017. She was surrounded by her family and friends, all of whom loved her deeply.
Irma was born in Dresden, Maine on Aug. 9, 1919. Her mother died when she was young, so she went to live with her paternal grandparents. At 16, she married the love of her life, Jimmy Carr. They had three beautiful children and they shared many adventures. One of Nannie's favorite stories to tell was of how she traveled 3 days to cross the continent on a train. She was leaving Maine for the first time, headed to San Diego with three small boys in tow. There she remained for 13 years. She so loved the temperate climate and the year round growing season!
Jimmy died suddenly and left her a widow at 30. She was a single mother until she met David Schnelle, a Navy man who was stationed nearby. They were married in 1952, and together they finished raising the boys. In 1962, after David retired, they moved to his childhood home near Round Mountain. They built a house with their own 4 hands, and there she lived for the rest of her life.
Nannie never cared for the bugs and snakes in Texas, but she loved the birds and other animals. She spent as much time as she could in the yard, puttering around the garden with her little dog Coco. He was her constant companion and lap warmer for the last 15 years, and he was her fierce (if tiny) protector.
Nannie was a self-proclaimed “tough old bird” and she fought mightily right up to her last breath. She was a proud woman with a green thumb, and she always had a kind word on her lips. She wore many hats in her lifetime: student, maid, wife, mother, “Rosie the riveter” (she built planes), land owner, landlord (not her favorite), gardener extraordinaire, nurse, caregiver, world traveler and cook. She was well known for her cookies and she made fabulous pies, which were oft requested by those around her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Schnelle; her son, Richard “Dick” Carr; great-grandson Aaron Weems; countless extended family (she was 98, after all); her precious dogs Muffet and Milo.
She is survived by her beloved chihuahua Coco; her children, Jim Carr, Karl Carr and wife Ann, and daughter-in-law Mary Carr; grandchildren, Robyn Carr and husband Stu, Ricky Carr and wife Leslie, Casey Carr and wife Raelynn, Kyle Carr, Jimmy Carr, David Carr and wife Ginger; great-grandchildren, Ryan Pikoff, Ethan Pikoff, Josh Carr and wife Sarah, Alex Carr, Alex Wilson, Ashton Wilson, Nadia Carr, Karl Lee Carr, Ashley Carr, Aja Martinez and partner Mike, and Stephen Weems; great-great-grandchildren, Mia Carr, Mason Carr, Delia Martinez, Tyler Hancock and Lily Ledesma.
Irma “Nannie” Siegars Carr Schnelle lived a very long and full life. She lived it by her own rules and she did it her own way. She was an incredible woman who will be hugely missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of held at First United Methodist Marble Falls on Nov. 11. at 2 p.m.
