February 11, 1922 – July 21, 2008 

Jewell Minatra, 86, found rest in Heaven on Monday, July 21, 2008, surrounded by the love of her family and comforted by the prayers of those who knew her. She slipped from this life peacefully, following a 10-month bout with cancer. Jewell concluded her long life the way she lived it – with grace, strength and good humor. Born Feb. 11, 1922, in Chandler, Texas, Emma Jewell Sinclair Minatra was the daughter of Annie Mae Radney Sinclair and Y.G. Sinclair. Jewell married Jessie Willard Minatra on July 3, 1937. Their long life together was filled with travel, laughter, and the joys of family and friends. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on July 3, 1987, in Kerens and marked 56 years together before Jess’s sudden passing in 1994. Jewell truly enjoyed her roles of homemaker, wife and mother. She also worked at various times with Adam Hat Company and Haggar Slack Company in Corsicana and at W.R. Storey Manufacturing in Ennis. She loved traveling with her family during the decades her husband was active in the pipeline construction industry. Jewell loved reading, enjoyed cooking her specialties, shopping for antiques, and good times with friends – making friends wherever life took her. She was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father, and infant brother, Y.G. Sinclair Jr. Survivors include her four children – Jesse F. Minatra of Watertown, S.D., Annita and Ken Harris of Crawford, Sandra Minatra and Jim Bush of Waxahachie, and Verna and Danny Hudson of Corsicana; seven grandchildren – Johnny Wigley of Waco, Ronny Wigley of Tyler, Kelly and Michael Wigley of Round Rock, Sheila and David Gray of Nashville, Tenn., Jeffrey and Shelly Minatra of Waynesboro, Tenn., Blake Hudson of Corsicana, and Megan Minatra of Watertown, S.D.; and eight great-grandchildren – Jarrett and Levi Wigley, Jake and Katie Jewel Wigley, and Keith, Amanda, Alora and Kayla Minatra; and friends Judy Armstrong and Billie Jean Christie, both of Kerens. Visitation with family will be 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, at Corley Funeral Home in Corsicana. Graveside funeral service will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, at Eureka Cemetery with the Rev. Dave Alexander officiating, and special music by son-in-law Ken Harris. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. The family wishes to extend its warm appreciation to staff members at Heritage Oaks West and Hospice of Cedar Lake, and to Dr. John Updegrove for their compassionate care.  

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