Myrtle Oates Elliott

1926 - 2018

Myrtle (Tissie) Oates Elliott

San Angelo, CA

Myrtle (Tissie) Oates Elliott was born on August 29, 1926 in Saragosa, Texas to Myrtle Chandler Oates and John G. Oates. She died October 2, 2018 in Austin, Texas. She had three older brothers, Jay Moseley Oates, John Earnest Oates, and William Brawley Oates.

Tissie attended Balmorhea schools and Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine. She graduated from Sul Ross in 1949 and returned to Balmorhea to teach school. In late 1950, she met and married Wes Elliott. They were married for 62 years. They settled in Balmorhea where they raised three daughters, Susie, Tissie Ann, and Cherry. Other than short moves early in their marriage to Ft. Stockton and Van Horn, they spent their entire lives in Balmorhea. Tissie and Wes made many wonderful lifelong friends in Balmorhea, Pecos, Verhalen, and Ft. Stockton. Their roots ran deep in West Texas.

As her parents aged, Tissie was a devoted daughter and caregiver to them both. After their girls grew up and left home, Tissie returned to teaching. She influenced the lives of many students with her dedication and nurturing spirit and provided them a strong educational foundation. During retirement, she delighted in spending time with her grandsons, traveling with Wes, and quilting. Her handmade quilts are treasured possessions of her daughters.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Myrtle and John Oates, her brothers, and her beloved husband, Wes. She is survived by her daughters, Susie and her husband, Frederick Weinald of Mansfield; Tissie Ann and her husband Gary McNeil of Austin; and Cherry and her husband, David Wike of San Angelo. She is also survived by three grandsons, Matthew Anderson & wife, Shana; Jonathan Anderson & wife, Jennifer; and Elliott Wilkes & fianc?e, Erin Thesing; and two great grandchildren, Casen and Kayleigh Anderson.

The family will visit with friends at the First Baptist Church of Balmorhea at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 5, 2018. A celebration of Tissie's life will follow at 10:00 a.m. at The First Baptist Church of Balmorhea. Burial will be at the Balmorhea Cemetery immediately after the service.

For those wishing to give memorial gifts, the family asks donations be made in Tissie's memory to the First Baptist Church of Balmorhea or the Alzheimer's Association. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers who ministered to Tissie's needs in Austin, especially Rosa Soto and Virginia Saldana.

Tissie was a faithful Christian, a devoted daughter, a loving wife and mother, and an extremely proud Nana. She will be dearly missed by those of us who loved her, but we know she has been welcomed into the loving arms of God.