Fairy Belle Hoppenrath

Fairy Belle (Moseley) (Dowlearn) Hopperath, was born to Claude and Addie McMorris Moseley on May 21, 1931, in the Davy Crocket National Forest, northeast of Crocket, Texas. She passed unto the loving arms of the Lord she dearly loved on May 17, 2022.

Fairy Belle grew up one of eight children. Her father was a farmer, so she grew up working in the fields alongside her siblings. One of her most precious memories is singing with her siblings as the chores were done and at church. Fairy Belle was baptized into the Primitive Baptist Church in 1953 on a cold, blustery day in January in a stock pond.

Fairy Belle and husband, Thomas Alden “Bud” Dowlearn, moved to Kingsville, Texas in the mid-1960s. In 1967, Fairy Belle and husband, Harald Hoppenrath, a Navy man, moved to California then back to Corpus Christi, Texas in 1970 where they lived out their lives.

Fairy Belle was preceded in death by her mother and father, Claud and Addie Moseley; four brothers, Leylon, Floyd, Jeff and John Robert Moseley; three sisters, Nena Walser, Lona Little and Nila Faye Moseley; husband, Thomas Alden Dowlearn; husband, Harold Hoppenrath; two daughters, Patricia Lynne Dowlearn and Sharon Deaunn Alguire and son, Alden Dale Dowlearn.  She is survived by a host of relatives and friends, her special neighbor, Gloria Rivera, and by her "adopted" daughter, Lynette (James) Gerdes and family.

During her life, Fairy Belle had many jobs: field work on the family farm, waitressing, working at a laundry and dry cleaners, telephone operator and working a jewelry stand in a mall among others.

Fairy Belle was a talented artist. She joined the Corpus Christi Art Guild in 1978 where she served as Guild President for several years then was awarded Honorary Membership. Fairy Belle was also a member of several other civic organizations and was active in local politics, especially the Republican Women's Group. It was also a common occurrence to see one of her “Letters to the Editor” appear in the city paper and in later years kept the iPad hot with her communications. She never let an opportunity pass to let others know what she was thinking.

She was a very special person and liked nothing more than enjoying herself with good friends. She played volleyball on a team in Odessa. While in California Fairy Belle played baseball with the Navy wives and then, after moving to Corpus Christi, played on a softball team sponsoring Chung Me restaurant. She also entered a Senior’s Pageant, winning second runner up in the skit she performed. In later years she loved getting together with friends and playing board games, dominoes, and chair volleyball. Other things she enjoyed: playing her keyboard, dancing, gun collecting, writing, drawing, attending church services and singing. In her earlier years she sang alto and then, in years later tenor. Fairy Belle you were one of a kind and will be missed so very much.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Corpus Christi Primitive Baptist Church, in care of: Vernie Miller, 5501 March St., Robstown, Texas 78380.