A Celebration of Life service for Mary Nell Drew Burnett, 76, of Grand Saline was held on October 20th in Grand Saline.
Since 1999, Mary Nell has battled three different cancers as well as blindness from macular degeneration. In 2009, Mary Nell was a Hero of Hope for the Smith County Relay For Life. There, she credited her miraculous previous recoveries to the prayers and support of her family, who were always with her, and her doctors – who never gave up on her. Her family wants to especially thank Dr. Frank Ward and his wonderful staff for 10 years of loving, faithful care to Mary Nell.
In her final years, she used her energies to volunteer to raise donations for Relay For Life to help in cancer research and cancer patient assistance.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years John Burnett; five children and their spouses, Debbie and Kerry Kindle of Grand Saline, Kathy and Keith Baker of Grand Saline, John and Gretchen Burnett, Jr. of Cedar Creek Lake, Beth and Steve Bergeron of Cedar Park, and Robert and Julie Burnett of Magnolia. She is also survived by her two brothers and their wives, Kirk and YEvonne Drew, and Bobby and Martha Drew, both of Granbury, and her brother-in-law and wife Judge Joe and Jeanette Burnett of Dallas. Mary Nell was also a proud grandmother and was blessed with twelve grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Robert and Clara Mae Drew.
Donations can be made to: American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Smith County Team: "Beating The Odds" 1301 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 75701.
