Ella Clarie Qualls

Ella Clarie Qualls received an invitation to heaven Friday, August 13, 2021, in her home in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the tender age of 95.Known to family and friends as Clarie, she was born on March 28, 1926, in Waxahachie, TX, to Sarah Lena (Patterson) and Cecil Earl Hickle. She spent her formative years on a farm in Parker County near Weatherford, Texas. She graduated Valedictorian of her high school class in 1943 and began attending Mary Hardin Baylor Women's College. Economic times, however, dictated that she postpone her education in order to help her parents financially. At the young age of 18 she was hired to teach school in the small community of Rochester, Texas. It was here she found two lifelong loves... teaching and her husband. She and Edwin Boyce Qualls, a U.S. Navy veteran and student at North Texas State College married in January 1949. The newlyweds loved to square dance and did so at every opportunity. She pursued a college degree at North Texas State College and, eventually earned her Bachelor's Degree after 10 long years.

Clarie and Ed moved to Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950, where Ed was employed as an elementary school principal and Clarie as an elementary school teacher. They retired together in 1980. She was a consummate teacher and positively influenced hundreds of children over her 30+ year teaching career. Clarie was active in the churches she attended, South Shore Christian Church and St. John's United Methodist Church. After retirement she remained active in education by volunteering and substituting at London School.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Boyce Qualls and her son, Samuel Edwin Qualls. She is survived by her daughter Rebecca Ford (Ross) of Corpus Christi, grandson Paul Ford (Jessica) of Austin, grandson Ryan Ford of Corpus Christi, and grandson Jacob Qualls (Lily). She is further survived by her great grandchildren Landon Ford of Corpus Christi, Madison and Mason Qualls of Kingsville, Texas, and her beloved sister-in-law, Bonnie Hickle of Georgetown, Texas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Service plans will be announced at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made in Clarie's name to:

Abandoned Cemetery Association (Mount Carmel)

PO Box 61

Weatherford, TX 76086

Wounded Warrior Project

4899 Belfort Road Suite 300

Jacksonville Florida 32256

Corpus Christi Food Bank

826 Krill St.

Corpus Christi, TX 78408

St. John's United Methodist Church

5300 S. Alameda

Corpus Christi, TX 78412

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