Joanna Pauline Littrell
Joanna Pauline “Polly (Nuckles) Littrell, was born August 24, 1938, the first of second set of twins born to Joseph A and Lucille (Champion) Nuckles. She is survived by her sister, Mary Casbeer of Lampasas; brothers WW & (Doris) Nuckles, Reuben Nuckles and Steve Nuckles of Lampasas TX.And James (Sally) Nuckles of Austin, TX.One Austin, Marie Davis of Baden, PA., and one Uncle, Bill Champion of Katy, TX, of numerous nieces and nephews and cousins; stepchildren Robert Littrell, Wende Groves of Belleville, II., Steve (Kathy) Littrell of Queen Creek, AZ, and Betty (Clyde) Crouse of Maryville, WA.; 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and one sister-in-law; Julie Burgard of Mascoutah, IL.
She is predeceased by her husband, Elmer L. Littrell, her twin brother, Joe Paul Nuckles, a sister-in-law Christie Nuckles, her parents Mr. and Mrs. Joe Nuckles, a kind, Amelia “Mimi” Casbeer Couch, and two nephews, Martin “Marty” Nuckles and Lyndon Nuckles.
Polly married Elmer L. Littrell, April 20, 1983, in the small chapel of First Methodist Church in San Marcos, TX. And they lived in O’ Fallon, until their retirement when they returned to the family farm where she grew up in Lampasas County.
Polly graduated from Lampasas High in 1957 and was active in the high school band and in the FFA. She also graduated from Jackson Business College in Lampasas in 1957. She attended Texas Woman’s University and earned her occupational therapy certification. While studying at TWU, she was active in the orchestra where she played bassoon. She attended several other colleges and universities throughout her professional career.
She worked in occupational therapy at Austin State Hospital for several years. She has also worked at Cabiness-Brown Furniture, Bergstrom AFB Officer’s Club and B7B Land Clearing Co. in Austin. After she and Elmer moved to Illinois, she worked for Petrolite Corp, in St. Louis, Mo. Until her retirement.
Polly lived in Wildflower Terrace in the Mueller neighborhood, where the old airport was located. It brought back a lot of great memories, as the old airport tower was just outside its patio. She loved to see the tower light up at Christmas from her terrace. She loved crafts, sewing and especially playing bridge. She actively played bridge until her death. She led a craft group once a week in the Wildflower Terrace craft room. The artisan group makes Afghans (comfort blankets) for those in hospital as a welcome gift from the staff and friends of the Wildflower Terrace. They made flower arrangements, jewelry, and many other hobbies. Above all, she loved counted cross stitch. She had many plays that won blue ribbons. Most are in the homes of his doctors. Polly learned coking at an early age, helping her mother in the kitchen. She learned to cook without using recipes and meals had to be prepared in a hurry. She also liked to prepare big parties. She helped prepare a community breakfast and social party once a week where she lived. She has prepared several large parties on St. Patrick’s Day where she has lived for the past few years. She loved shopping for “HATS” and then looking for craft supplies to decorate her hats. She loved music, dancing and being surrounded by people from all over the world.
She is a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. She will have a memorial service at a later date, at the Wildflower Terrace where she lived. His ashes will be interred at Valhalla Cemetery, Belleville, IL. next to her husband.
Cook Walden Funeral Home
Austin, TX
