Deloris Jean Branch

Deloris Jean Branch, of Mexia, passed away at The Manor Nursing Home in Mexia on Friday, January 22, 2021, at age 88.

Graveside services, for family only, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at the Pavilion at Fort Parker Memorial Park Cemetery.

Deloris was born June 29, 1932 to Keith Mae Noe and Doris Elizabeth (Howarter) Noe in Wheatland, WY.  During the depression years, the family moved to Oregon for work and then to Iowa, where she mainly grew up and graduated from high school. 

She received a bachelor's degree at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, and she was a teacher for some years. During her first marriage with Ralph Hart, Sr. they had two children, Ralph and Cheryl.

Deloris married Eugene "Gene" Branch in September 1962 in Cusseta, GA.  He was stationed at Ft. Benning and she was living in Georgia when they met.  Born to this union were Robert and Teresa.  When Gene was called back to Vietnam, Deloris and the children moved back to Iowa, where Becky was born.

When Gene was discharged, the family moved to Mexia, TX because Gene was originally from Thornton and his Mother was living in Mexia.  They soon moved to Lake Mexia.  She remained a housewife and Mom to 5 children and the neighborhood kids who were welcomed in her home.  After the children were raised she volunteered at the Mexia Senior Citizens Center and a Nursing Home in Groesbeck.  Deloris was a member of the RLDS church in Marlin where she taught Sunday school for many years.  She had not only one green thumb but two green thumbs and loved her flowers.  As she became less active she loved to watch old Westerns on TV.  She had been a resident in the Manor Nursing Home for the past year.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Eugene Branch in 1999; a daughter, Cheryl Smith in 2019; son-in-law, Will Battrick in 2019; her brother, Max Noe in 2015; and daughter-in-law, Alice Hart in 2016

She is survived by a sister, Arylene Richardson of Lake Mexia; son, Ralph Hart, Jr. of Lake Mexia; son-in-law, Ron Smith of Lake Mexia; son, Robert Branch and wife Vicki of Paradise; daughter, Teresa Battrick of Prairie Hill; daughter, Becky Kilgore and husband, David of Riesel; niece, Rachonna Richardson of Lake Mexia; grandson, Ronnie Ray Smith and wife Diana of Granbury; grandson, Jerry Smith and wife Tammy of Lake Mexia; grandsons - Cavin Cacy of Garland; Cory Cacy of Prairie Hill; Keith Branch and wife Brook of Alliance; granddaughter, Chelsea Kilgore of Ohio; numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.  She will be greatly missed.