Lou Ellen Welch

Lou Ellen Welch, of Groesbeck, passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2011, at the Limestone Medical Center, at age 90. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, November 25, 2011, at Fort Parker Memorial Park, with Rev. James Dorman of Landmark Baptist Church of Mexia officiating. Visitation will be at the cemetery prior to the service. Lou Ellen was born October 2, 1921, to William Dossey Outlaw and Nancy Ellen (O’Neal) Outlaw in the Prairie Point Community near Groesbeck. She was one of twelve children born to this family, and weighed only one and one-half pounds at birth. She was told the doctor delivering her put his wedding ring on her wrist to show how tiny she was. She was a twin with her sister not surviving. She grew up and attended school at Prairie Point, and had said that Franklin Jackson was her favorite teacher. Lou Ellen married Johnnie Welch in Groesbeck on April 21, 1939, and they lived their entire lives in the Groesbeck area, after farming for a while near Thornton. Lou Ellen spent her life as a homemaker and mother, and also worked for some years at the dress factory in Mexia. She enjoyed cooking, and also, sewing, embroidery and reading. She was a member of the Lost Prairie Baptist Church. She left her family a real treasure in a book where she had written down many detailed memories of her life from the youngest years up through 2000. She was active until her health problems made it necessary for her to move to the Groesbeck LTC six years ago. Lou Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; ten of her brothers and sisters; her husband in 1971; a son, Freddie Dean Welch in 1973; and a granddaughter, Mary Ann Welch. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Henson of Groesbeck; and son, Johnnie Welch and wife Joyce of Mexia; six grandchildren, Larry Dean Henson, David Wayne Welch, Kim Kitchen and husband Kenny, Michelle Fregia and husband David, Chris Henson and wife Valerie, and Tisha Henson; sixteen great grandchildren; twelve great-great grandchildren; and a brother, Morris Outlaw of Groesbeck.