Jonnie Lynn Walter

Jonnie Lynn McCarley Walter was a lifelong resident of Texas and a descendant of Stephen F. Austin Colonists. Born on a Sunday, October 3, 1926 on her grandfather’s ranch, she came into this world fighting odds of survival as a premature baby. She continued to fight her battle with cerebral palsy which stood in the way of her walking and moving like everyone else. After an early lifetime in and out of Shriners hospitals, Mother could walk with the aid of crutches and walked straight into a Yankee’s heart near the end of World War II. In February of 1947, she married her Yankee, Mr. Ray Walter. In 1957, she once again had to fight – this time, for the right to adopt a child, going to court to prove she could be a fit mother. Later that year, the Walters brought home their first daughter, Lila, and they believed that their family was complete. In 1963, Jonnie once again bucked everyone’s beliefs and gave birth to a second daughter, Ellen. Jonnie and Ray were happy together until he was called home to Heaven in 1989. Undaunted by the task of living alone and with the help of their lifelong friends and neighbors, Mother remained in El Paso in the house Ray bought until 2000, when her daughters brought her to Austin to be close to them. Mother watched her grandchildren grow into adulthood and even had the joy of watching her greatgrandchildren grow from babies to toddlers. She was a kind and sweet woman who made friends easily throughout her life. A true fiery Texas spirit, Mother was hardheaded and kindhearted simultaneously. She spent her life touching the lives of so many others in this world. She left this world on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Austin, Texas - fighting her last fight with illness and exiting this life with the dignity and grace that was Jonnie Walter. She is survived by her daughters, Lila Hillin and Ellen Spradling, their husbands Randy Hillin and Jack Spradling, her grandchildren Brandon and Jaquelyn Spradling and her greatgrandchildren, Erica Spradling, Aurora Melshenkar and Noble Melshenkar. The family extends very special thanks to the staff at Austin North Assisted Living, Beth Pike, Encompass Home Health Care and the Seton Medical Center ICU for their kind and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the March of Dimes in Jonnie’s memory. Committal Service will begin at 9:30am, Friday, July 7, 2017 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit our online registry book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net