Mrs. Nellie Irene (Cude) Heckart

She was the third of seven children. Nellie grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Burbank High School in 1958. Later that year, she met a young soldier stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Carl Heckart. Six weeks later they were wed. Thus, began a forty year love story which endured even after Carl’s death from cancer in 1998.

During their marriage, Carl and Nellie became parents to four children. As Carl pursued his military career, they lived in Texas, Virginia and Alaska. Nellie was a traditional army wife and mother. She kept the home fires burning, raised their children and supported her husband in his endeavors.

Although Nellie never sought a higher education, as Carl advanced in his career field, she helped him earn his nursing degree. She wrote way too many of his papers and completed more than a little of his homework. But as he always reminded his family - he was the one that passed the tests!

When Carl was deployed Nellie became both mother and father to their children - even single-handedly packing up their home and moving from San Antonio to Fairbanks with two preschoolers, one on her hip and one by the hand, when Carl was transferred to Fort Wainwright.

Upon Carl’s retirement from the US Army they settled in Dallas, Texas in 1973. For the first time Nellie worked outside of the home. Nellie was employed by Eckerd Drugs (later CVS) until she retired at the age of 70.

Nellie loved to drive (or Carl did not). They traversed the continent from Alaska to Texas and from Virginia to Washington by car - always with Nellie at the wheel and more often than not, with Carl laying across the back seat reading a book or ¨resting his eyes. ¨

Nellie was a faithful member of 1 Voice Church where she was known as ¨Grandma Nellie” to the entire congregation. She was also renowned for her baking skills. Her homemade cakes were highly prized at church bake sales (especially her Italian Cream cake and German Chocolate cake). While the adults sought after her cakes and cookies, the children of the congregation knew that “Grandma Nellie” always had candy and gum in her purse and she would eagerly share.

Nellie never admitted her true age. When asked she always said she was 21. She did this for so long she finally had to ask her mother to tell her how old she was. In 2008, her family celebrated 70th birthday with a 21st birthday party.

On April 11, 2025 at age 21 (for the 66th time) Nellie returned to her heavenly home.

Nellie will be missed by all who knew her. She will be remembered for her sense of humor,

Her devotion to her family and her faith in the Lord.

She is preceded in death by her mother Emma and father Elbert Cude, sisters Bessie Flora, Berneice Smalley, and Betty Jo Hoag and her much loved husband Carl E. Heckart.

Nellie is survived by her sister Gladys Rock; brother Elbert and Connie Cude, and Charles Cude; children Tammy and Kenneth Hill, Babette Reynosa, Carl and Suzette Heckart, and Bunny and Ernest Reynosa.

She was” Grams” to Tammy and Larry Sanders, Kevin and Amanda Calongne, Sarah and Randy Burton, Tiffany and Alex Alanis, “Tito” and Emily Reynosa, Amanda Reynosa, Jessica and Aaron Libby, Robert and Bianca Reynosa, Gabriel and Caitlin Reynosa, James and Megan Heckart, Mikaela Reynosa, Caleb Heckart, 1st Lt. Logan Heckart, DO, Nathaniel Reynosa, and Savannah Heckart; 13 great grandchildren and another one on the way; a host of cousins; nieces and nephews and her constant and faithful companion, Buster.

A visitation hour for Nellie will be held Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Laurel Land Funeral Home, 6300 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75232. A funeral service will occur Friday, April 18, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Laurel Land Memorial Chapel, 6300 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75232. A committal service will occur Friday, April 18, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Laurel Land Memorial Park, 6300 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75232