Naomi Sue Cornelius Nix

  Naomi Sue Cornelius Nix, died peacefully on December 14, 2024, at the age of 91. Sue was born in Weatherford, Texas, on December 29, 1932, to Henry Grady Cornelius and Katie Lee "Kate" Strain Cornelius. She attended Millsap Public Schools, graduating from Millsap High School in 1950. She attended Weatherford College and worked as a secretary in Fort Worth before her marriage to Joe Dale Nix on February 27, 1954. Their loving partnership lasted sixty-one years, until his passing in 2015. 

  During Joe's service in the military, the couple was stationed in Hawaii for two years before settling in Denton, Texas, where they lived for eight years. During this time, Sue lovingly cared for their home and children while Joe commuted to Dallas to work and also pursued his education, ultimately earning his master’s degree in education from North Texas State University. 

  In 1964, Joe's career led the family to Lipan, Texas where they attended the Lipan Methodist Church. Sue, Laurie, and Michael all professed their faith in Christ and were baptized in the stock tank at the family farm off Addison Road in Lipan. Two years later, Joe's career led them to Santo, Texas, where Joe, Sue, Laurie, and Michael became devoted members of the Santo United Methodist Church. 

  Sue was a stay-at-home mom until her children were in middle school, at which point she earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in education from Tarleton State University. She began her teaching career in 1968 in Santo and taught primarily second grade until her retirement in 1998. 

  Teaching is where Sue found her true passion, and dedicated her career to teaching second grade, a role she cherished deeply. She often said that she considered second grade to be the most critical time in a child's education, providing a firm foundation for their education to follow. She understood that each child was different and her professional responsibility was to build on the different methods each child needed to succeed. 

  After 30 years of teaching, Sue and Joe embarked on many "fifth wheel" driving trips around the United States, making wonderful memories with Joe's sister, Georgia Nix Phillips and her husband, Mike Phillips.

  In retirement, Sue and Joe also enjoyed spending time outdoors, raising cattle, and hiking together on family ranch land. Sue would not let anyone mow her wildflowers until they had “seeded out” and cherished the saying, “May all your weeds be wildflowers.” 

   Sue is remembered by her family as a devoted wife, loving mother, sister, aunt, and doting grandmother. 

   In addition to her parents, Sue was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe Dale Nix; her brother, Henry Grady Cornelius, Jr.; and her sister, Ella Margaret Cornelius Simms.

  Sue leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish her memory. Her many survivors include her son, Michael Nix (Terri); her daughter, Laurie Daugherty (Rob); her four grandchildren, Matthew Nix (Denise), Mary-Katherine Bergman (Drew), Jonathan Nix (Christy), and William Daugherty; and six great-grandchildren, Ava, Ben, Sam, Josiah, Ella, and Charlotte Nix. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nephews, cousins, and extended family members who loved her dearly.

  A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Newberry Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1301 Newberry Rd, Millsap, Texas 76066. Burial will follow at Newberry Cemetery.

  Sue's legacy of love, kindness, and dedication to family and education will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.