Robert Houston 'Bob' Donnell
Robert Houston “Bob” Donnell (67) of Ennis, TX passed away peacefully at his home on May 9, 2024. Bob was born on November 4, 1956, to parents James Kenneth “Jimmy” Donnell and Bartine Merryman Donnell of Ennis, Texas. Bob was raised and spent much of his adult life in Ennis. At the age of 17, Bob joined the Navy where he served his country for 2 years. After completing his service, he went to work for the Railroad where he worked in several different roles over the course of a 30-year career with Southern Pacific, GNO and Kansas City Southern. Bob met and married wife Marilyn Donnell in 2003. Bob loved sports. He loved watching his Cowboys, the Fightin’ Texas Aggies, and perhaps most of all his Ennis Lions. Later in life he was resigned to listening to Ennis High School Football games, but he’d still yell at terrible officiating over the radio. He never met a stranger if it came down to talking sports or politics, and if you wanted to argue about either then that was even better.
Bob is preceded in death by father, Jimmy Donnell, and mother Bartine (Dear) M. Donnell, brother in-law Jim Bob Wilson and brother in-law Ronnie Fincher. He is survived by wife Marilyn Donnell, son Adam Donnell and wife Blair, daughter Kristy Grimes and husband Jesse, stepdaughter Heather Turner, stepdaughter Mandi Stephenson and husband Cooper, stepdaughter Courtney Turner, sister Sue Ann Wilson, brother Jimmy Donnell and wife Debbie, sister Sherrie Fincher and 8 grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother that will be missed by all who knew him.
Also, the family would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to Bristol Hospice for their kind, caring and compassion for Bob for the last year and half of his life.
Special thanks to Talina, Christy, Mary, Julie and all the awesome staff including Jerry, the chaplain, who made Bob feel at ease and at peace with every visit Memorial Service is Monday, May 20, 2024 at 2pm. Held at Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home in Ennis, Texas.
