Marie Santina Phillips Michele was born October 6, 1935 in Tallulah, Louisiana to Charles and Sarah (Scurria) Phillips. She graduated from Tallulah High School in 1954 and attended Louisiana Tech before she married Johnny Toney Michele on November 25, 1956 in Tallulah. Marie enjoyed being a homemaker for many years and later in her life began working at the Apparel Mart in Dallas. Soon after that, she found her true love for watching children. She first started watching young ones at Hackberry Creek Church in Irving. From there, she moved to Decatur, Texas where she started a rewarding role as the childrens care giver at First Baptist Church of Decatur. She touched the lives of many children and had many one-on-one babysitting adventures. Marie passed away on August 5, 2017 at the age of 81. She is survived by her sister, Josephine Hodge of Tallulah; her children, Charles Anthony Michele and wife Carolyn of Grand Prairie, Mamie Josephine Gatlin and husband Billy of Pleasant Grove, and John Michele of Euless; grandchildren, Charlene Elliott, Amanda Hamilton and David Rackley, Robert Gatlin, Michael Michele and wife Stefanie, Matthew Michele and wife Andrea, Sean Hamilton and Brittney Harris, Mona Pond, Meagan Michele and Bryanna Pond; great-grandchildren, Marissa Elliott, Kya Charron, Emily Lopez, Elora Rackley, Alaina Michele, Logan Michele, Iris Hamilton and Kelli Michele. She was preceded in death by her husband Johnny and daughter Sarah Marie Michele Pond. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 from 6:00 8:00 p.m. at Donnellys Colonial Funeral Home, 606 West Airport Freeway, Irving, Texas. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 10, 2017 in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 East Irving Boulevard, Irving, Texas 75060. SERVICES

Visitation

Wednesday, August 09, 2017 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home 606 West Airport Freeway Irving, Texas 75062

Funeral Service

Thursday, August 10, 2017 11:00 AM

Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home 606 West Airport Freeway Irving, Texas 75062

Committal Service

Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:30 PM

Oak Grove Memorial Gardens 1413 E. Irving Blvd. Irving, TX 75060