A Celebration of the Life of Mary Chris Nix will be held at 3:00 PM, on Sunday, December 3, 2023, in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel.

Mary Christine Ragsdale Stearns Nix was born in Brownwood to J. Herbert Ragsdale and Billie Louise Maxcey Ragsdale on February 24, 1951. She passed away peacefully on November 22, 2023.

Mary is a graduate of Brownwood High School, class of 1969. Mary started off her career working at HR Options in Oakland, California where she was able to touch many lives in her career and made many lifelong friends.

She worked for Heartland Funeral Home and Cremation. This is where Mary was able to use her calling in life to serve others, and to help them through their grief and sorrow. She always knew the right words to say or do and she gave herself unconditionally to others. She was a true believer in giving back to others and always greeted you with her famous kiss on the lips and a great big hug.

Anyone that knew Mary knew her love of family, friends and community spanning across the globe. We all know that once you met Mary Chris, you became a part of her family.

Mary met and later married the love of her life, Dale Nix, on April 28, 2007. She loved to travel with Dale and her favorite place to go was Yellowstone and see all the wildlife.

She loved to take her grandchildren on breakfast dates, supper at Underwoods, garage sales and driving down the alleys to find “treasures”. Mary would also tell you that she was “The Organizer” of all family and friend functions. She could plan a party.

Mary believed in paying it forward. We will never know about all the things Mary has done to help people. She would always tell us to do random acts of kindness because what you put out in this world is what you will get back in life.

The family would like to challenge each and every one of you to do random acts of kindness in honor of Mary Chris and her life. One act of kindness can change a person’s day or even life, and this is what Mary Chris is all about. We would also like for you to write down a memory or a funny experience that you had with Mary. We will have a basket to place the notes in at her celebration of life. Mary always told us to go out and make some great memories, so we are excited to read them.

Mary is survived by her loving and faithful husband Dale, son Brian Stearns and wife Renea, daughter in law Michelle Stearns, son Jeff Nix and wife Heather; five grandchildren: Brianna Lopez and husband Allen, Jason Stearns and wife Aubrey, Cody Stearns and wife Sierra, Nolan Stearns, and Nathan Stearns; two great-grandchildren, Mya Hunter and Travis Stearns; a sister: Sylvia Hanover and husband Tommy; a brother, Herbie Ragsdale and wife Michelle, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her brother Nicky Lynn Ragsdale, son Richard Lynn “Richie” Stearns, father J.H. Ragsdale, and her mother Billie Louise Maxcey Ragsdale.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Mary’s memory to the Brown County Boys and Girls Club, 1701 Ave L, Brownwood, 76801 or the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center, 3016 Milam Drive, Brownwood, 76801.

Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Nix family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com