Vivian Bushnell

Vivian Pryor Bushnell
March 21, 1923 – February 26, 2014

Vivian Pryor Bushnell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family Wednesday the 26th of February 2014. Services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 1st at OakCrest Funeral Home with her grandson, the Rev. Michael K. Goacher officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation with Mrs. Bushnell’s family will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning prior to the funeral service in the OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel.

Vivian was born the 21st of March 1923 in Hillsboro to George and Gertrude Pryor. She was united in marriage to Horace Bushnell the 29th of November 1945. They were blessed with 63 years of marriage until Horace passed away in 2008.

Vivian was a homemaker whose first priority was her family. She had a great sense of humor and we all knew her to be fun and feisty. She would sometimes surprise Horace as he came home from work with a picnic packed for the family to go to the lake. She loved sitting outside in her gazebo enjoying her redbud trees and banana plants. Vivian loved camping with Horace at Lake Waco, especially when her grandchildren, Mark, Michael and Sarah could come along. They knew that even though they were “camping out” in the travel trailer, their grandmother would cook for them her usual delicious full meals. The depth of her love for her grandchildren will be felt by them forever.

Vivian and Horace were 60 year members of Richfield Christian Church, where she served as a Deaconess and Sunday school teacher and was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She read her worn-down old red Bible every night before bedtime for her entire adult life. She was a Christian and lived her life honestly and simply. There was no shading between right and wrong and she and Horace both held themselves to the highest of moral standards. We were blessed to have her in our lives for so long, but she will always be with us in our hearts, minds and actions.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Horace; and six brothers and sisters.

Vivian is survived by her daughters, Linda Smith and husband, Tony of Belton and Jane Strittmatter and husband, Paul of Fort Worth; grandsons, Mark Goacher and wife, Trina of Flower Mound and Michael Goacher and wife, Chelsy of Lake Forest, California; granddaughter, Sarah Strittmatter of Fort Worth; and great-granddaughters, Megan, Abigail and Caroline Goacher. She is also survived by sisters, Hazel Matthys and Bettie Vaughn.

The family would like to express special thanks to every nurse and aide who ever worked with Vivian. We deeply appreciate everyone at Park Place Manor Nursing Home where she received loving and gentle care far beyond what we ever dreamed. We also thank Odyssey Hospice and Doctors Petty, Parker and Petersen for their wonderful care.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to East Bell County Salvation Army, PO Box 1884 Temple, TX 76503 or Richfield Christian Church, 4201 Cobbs Drive Waco, TX 76710