Annella Baitz

Annella Lou Hertel Baitz was born April 17, 1937 in Knox County, Texas to John Alfred Hertel and Velma Lou (Cleveland) Hertel.

Annella passed away peacefully on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the age of 88 while residing at Stonewall Living Center in Aspermont, Texas.

Annella graduated from Rule High School in Rule, TX in May, 1955, where she participated in basketball and cheerleading. Annella married the love of her life, Melvin Lee Baitz on September 10, 1955 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sagerton, Texas. Together they raised two sons and built a family business of farming and raising cattle in the Sagerton and Old Glory Texas areas. They lived and raised their sons in Sagerton and later moved to Annella's childhood home on Highway 6 between Rule and Sagerton.

Annella was known for being a hard worker. She farmed and tended cattle with her family. She loved "chopping" cotton, using a four-wheeler to spray the fields, and driving tractors. She loved taking trailers of cotton to the gin and later running the module builder, and taking grain to the elevators during harvest seasons. She diligently fed and tended the cattle through all kinds of weather. She loved her homes and always had a beautiful lush lawn with many colorful flowers and plants both inside and outside. She loved to paint and repaint her homes. One never knew what color the walls of her home would be! When we see rainbows and colorful skies now, we will know Annella had a hand in helping God paint them.

Annella and Melvin hosted many family celebrations at their homes throughout the years. Family birthdays, holidays, baptisms, confirmations…or just fun times of fishing, playing dominoes or cards, eating and laughing. They especially loved having their siblings and their spouses together for weekends of shenanigans!

She loved decorating for Christmas. She would decorate every room in her home. She always displayed a large ceramic outdoor Christmas Manger, giant Christmas tree and Christmas lights which was a tradition started by her parents at the Highway 6 family home.

Annella was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church and later Faith Lutheran Church, both in Sagerton, TX. She volunteered at church functions and also at Sagerton community functions.

Annella was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Velma Lou, her husband, Melvin, and her son Johnny Lee Baitz; Her mother-in-law, Emma Tredemeyer Baitz Raphelt; Her brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Eloise Hertel, and Billy and Margie Hertel; Her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dorothy (Baitz) and Joe Clark, Mae (Baitz) and Leon Stegemoeller, Ruby (Baitz) and George Olson, and Les Baitz.

She is survived by one sister, Kay Hertel Baitz Pack of Stamford, TX; Her son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Tami Baitz of Sagerton, TX. Daughter-in-law Gail Baitz Morrow of Old Glory. Four grandchildren and their spouses; Kacy Baitz and David Perez of Waco, TX, Kami Baitz Ransom and Kristin Ransom of McKinney, TX, Jordan Baitz and John Hernandez of Aspermont, TX, and Brady Baitz of Sagerton, TX. Eleven great-grandchildren, Grace Baitz Silva and spouse Pete Silva, Aidan Baitz, Graham Baitz, Kambryn Ransom, Benjamin Baitz, Kylan Ransom, Annie Hernandez, Corley Hernandez, Gunther Baitz and Millie Baitz; One great-great-granddaughter, CJ Silva; Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from the Cleveland, Hertel, Baitz, and Tredemeyer families. Annella loved her family unconditionally and will be greatly missed by all.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Kinney-Underwood Funeral Home, 210 S Ferguson St., Stamford, Texas, 79553. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at Faith Lutheran Church, 2308 State Highway 283, Sagerton, Texas, 79548 with Pastor Paul Cannon officiating. Annella chose cremation as a final expression of simplicity and peace.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church in Annella's honor.

The family would like extend their sincere thanks to the staff of Stonewall Living Center in Aspermont for their care and compassion.