Nellene (Eichler) Spacek, 88 years old, of Giddings, entered eternal rest on September 15, 2026.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home Chapel in Giddings, with Tim Pitts officiating.
Burial, beside her beloved Sonny, followed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Dime Box.
Nellene was born on May 26, 1938, at home in Dime Box, to Emmett and Nellie Mae (Sample) Eichler.
Nellene grew up in hard times during the Depression and World War II.
She was the third born of seven children. Nellene said they picked a lot of cotton as kids and had to walk to the fields. Their days started at 5:30 each morning. The material things they lacked, were way outnumbered by the love and family they shared.
Nellene often reminisced about her Grandma Sample and the “good old days.”
Nellene attended the Dime Box School, graduating on May 28, 1956.
Nellene was baptized into the Catholic faith on July 14, 1956, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, in Frenstat, by Rev. George Tydlacka.
Two weeks later, Nellene married E.N. (Sonny) Spacek on July 29, 1956, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dime Box, with Rev. George Tydlacka officiating.
Nellene and Sonny were the second couple married in the new St. Joseph’s Church located in the town of Dime Box. Their wedding reception was held under the pecan trees at the home Sonny grew up in, located right behind the church.
Sonny was in the U.S. Army at the time of their wedding. So, after the wedding, Sonny headed back to the service. And Nellene counted the days until he returned.
In 1957, after Sonny was discharged from the Army, he returned to Dime Box and to his wife, Nellene.
They made their first home on a place owned by Miss Josie Malinak. Sonny farmed the land, along with other lands he leased. Nellene said the most cotton she ever picked in one day was after she married Sonny. It was on Sonny’s cotton patch. Nellene always bragged that Sonny was the best farmer in the county.
In 1962, Sonny and Nellene purchased a place of business on main street in downtown Dime Box. They called the business Sonny’s Place.
The place had Sonny’s name but it was Nellene that ran the business every day while Sonny worked other jobs. Coffee drinkers and domino players by day, family and friends gathering at night for fellowship, dancing and a cold one. It was a successful establishment.
In 1962, they also moved into town and became city folks. They rented a home until they purchased land with a trailer house on it across from the school gym. Later they built a beautiful home there.
Nellene loved working in her yard and was well known for her garden, especially the tomatoes. Nellene loved the hummingbirds and the squirrels.
Sonny and Nellene purchased a service station that was located right by Sonny’s Place. Of course, it was called Sonny’s Service. Gas at that time was 35 cents a gallon! They owned this business for three years, and then sold it.
In 1981, Nellene and Sonny sold Sonny’s Place, but kept the building.
Nellene went to work at the Dime Box school where she became “their girl Friday.” She was receptionist, secretary, book keeper, student adviser, substitute teacher, cheerleader sponsor, nurse and bus driver.
Nellene was an active member of St. Joseph’s Church. She led the choir on Sunday mornings and was a member of theAltar Society. Nellene always helped with the annual bazaar, the turkey and dressing dinners, the barbecue chicken dinners and funeral luncheons.
Nellene loved children and she always said even though God didn’t give Sonny and I any children, I have been surrounded by children.
As school nurse, she always had a peppermint for all the students’ ailments. She was the SPJST youth leader. All their nieces and nephews were special to Nellene and Sonny. Their God Children were their pride and joy.
Nellene loved to cook and prepare family gatherings. Family meant so much to her.
Nellene also loved to fish and was a very successful deer hunter. Sonny and Nellene, along with their hunting friends had some very good times.
Nellene was an avid bowler. She was in a league and her team was very successful. They brought home many trophies to testify to their talent. The team of Nellene, Laura, Oley, Doris, Ruby and Paulette have remained special friends over the years.
Nellene will be remembered for all the hours she spent at several cemeteries in Lee County where she had loved ones buried; spraying roundup and making sure the grounds were trimmed and clean. And, of course, replacing flowers on graves of family.
Sonny and Nellene were pet lovers. There was always a poodle in their home. At one time they raised poodles. When Nellene moved to Giddings, she had her poodle, Rusty, and two cats as her companions. They slept with her, and they ate with her. Wherever Nellene went, Rusty went.
Nellene was a loving, caring, compassionate lady. She took care of so many family members when they became ill. Nellene never minded how far she had to drive or how long she might have to stay. She was always there for them.
Nellene became a widow in October of 2003 when Sonny died.
In January of 2005, Nellene moved from Dime Box to Giddings to be closer to family. She met new neighbors and made new friends. Nellene loved people. But she didn’t move there to retire. Over the years she worked as a waitress at Mel’s Diner and also cleaned houses.
Nellene attended the First Baptist Church in Giddings. On Sunday mornings, she joined several other members of the church and they visited nursing homes, giving the residents pleasure in their Christian songs and Gospel readings.
In June 2020, Nellene was no longer able to live alone due to health reasons. She lived at Bec’s Blessings in Giddings until February of 2023, when she moved to St. Joseph’s Manor in Caldwell and remained there until her death.
Residing in nursing care facilities more than six years, Nellene never lost her friendly, happy ways. She continued to love everyone and always greeted them with a smile and a hello. Nellene will be sadly missed by many.
Nellene is survived by one sister, Arlene (Tootsie) Moody of Pflugerville; and two brothers, Emmett (Pete) Eichler of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Lee Roy Eichler, of New Braunfels. Also surviving are three sisters-inlaw, Delores Eichler of La Grange, Shannon Eichler of New Braunfels, and Monica Spacek of Dime Box; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Nellene in death was her beloved husband, E.N. (Sonny) Spacek; her parents, Emmett and Nellie Mae Eichler; her in-laws, Adolph and Johanna Spacek; sisters, Ruby (Jean) Peterson and Georgette Graves; brother, James Eichler; sister-inlaw, Peggy Eichler; and brothers-in-law, Vern Peterson and Jack Moody. Also preceding in death was Woodrow (Georgia) Spacek, Judith (Joe) Pekar, Bernadette (Henry) Reichle, Electra (Peter) Koeniger, and Riney Spacek.
Pallbearers were Nellene’s nephews, Troy Eichler, Lynn Eichler, Bobby Eichler, Robert Spacek, Russell Spacek, Richard Spacek and Robert Reichle.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Cemetery Fund, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 8282 F.M. 141, Dime Box, Texas 77853 or to Brazos Valley Hospice, 502 West 26th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803.
Arrangements by Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.
PHILLIPS & LUCKEY FUNERAL HOME 3950 E. Austin St. Giddings, Texas 979-542-3113