Praesel

Ruby Estelle Praesel, 95 of Rockdale, passed away Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Ser v ic e s were to be at 1 1 a . m. Wednesday, March 12, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Terry Arledge officiating.

The family received visitors an hour prior to service. Burial was to follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Estelle was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Milam County to W.E.”Curly” and Ruby Jane (Parker) Arledge.

She soon had three siblings, Gene, Jeanene and Helen, all close in age. They grew up moving all around Mrs. Praesel

Milam County, settling in a community for a while to farm the land and hunt. They attended many different schools, with the last for her being Rockdale High School.

On Nov. 8, 1945, at the age of 16, Estelle married the love of her life, Floyd Monroe Praesel, on the court steps at the Milam County Courthouse. Within a few years they purchased a 125acre tract of land just south of town which would become Praesel Addition and settled into the old farmhouse that was set on the back 50 acres. In 1948, 75 acres up front was subdivided and Praesel Addition was established. In time, it was complete with its own water supply, maintained roads and incorporation.

In 1950, their first son was born, Jesse Floyd, followed by Donald “Donnie” Ray in 1952. They were overjoyed. They loved living out on the land, growing watermelons, farming, raising cattle and building up Praesel Addition.

With the start of Alcoa around 1952, it was booming and houses were going up. Through the years they were able to buy up tracts around them to make up what is the farm today. They were known for their watermelon farming, specializing in Charleston Gray, Jubilee and Black Diamond. They worked together with her dad and brother in the watermelon business for some years. In 1961, after a record watermelon season, they were able to build a nice big brick home right beside their little farmhouse. She lived in it up to age 93.

In 1976, she became “mamaw” when Misty Dawn was born followed by Justin in 1980 to Donnie and Barbara. They built a house in the addition just down the hill from her house and grew up walking, riding bikes, four-wheeler, horses, whatever, to mamaw’s anytime.

She was a homemaker, she was completely devoted to and cared for all her family, an excellent cook, known for her chocolate tarts, she loved family gathering, coffee time at her mother’s, nature and gardening, and all animals.

Working with her hands, she was an artist, painting and sculpting and she was musically inclined.

She was a Christian, living her life as not just a hearer but a doer of God’s word. She had a deep reference for her Creator, Her Lord.

She had a full life, blessed with many years. She was content and enjoyed life’s simple things. She always said they were the most important.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd, in 1996; her father, Curly, in 1996; her great-grandson, Mason Doyle McCoy, in 2002; her son, Jesse, in 2004; her mother in 2005; her son, Donnie, in 2006; and her siblings, Helen, Jeanene and Gene, and siblings- in-law.

Surviving are her grandchildren, Justin Praesel and Brandi of Rockdale, Misty McCoy and husband Ron of Rockdale; and two great-grandsons, Branson and Carson McCoy; also, numerous nephews and nieces.

Special thank you to caretaker and friend Dlynn Thompson, to Barbara (Praesel) Nauert for helping in so many ways, and to SPJST Taylor for your exceptional care.