Life's Story

On Thursday, September 5, 1968, Eugenia and Oneal Hopes, Jr. welcomed their baby girl, Marchelle Annette into the world. Marchelle, affectionately called Chell by her family, grew up playing sports with her brothers. She enjoyed playing basketball, softball and running track during her early years. Marchelle was an avid reader. Give her a good novel and she would lose herself within the words on the pages for hours on end. She graduated from Bay City High School in 1987 and went on to attend Prairie View A & M University and majored in accounting.

Following her stay at Prairie View she returned to Bay City and worked in the day care industry caring for children for several years. She went on to work in the hospitality industry in a hotel reservations department. Marchelle then made a career move to work as a contractor for PMI (formally STP) for 32 years. It was at STP that she started in maintenance and worked her way up to being an operator and for the last 15 years of her career worked in human resources.

Marchelle was also a foodie!  She enjoyed Chinese food, seafood, fried foods, and sweets… yes, cakes and pies! Not only did she enjoy eating but she was an awesome cook as well.  Others loved her enchilada casserole, ox tails, and gumbo.  Additionally, she was a food critic in her own right. Her adventurous palate led her to taste many different cuisines. Some of which were pleasing and others she left saying, “man we not going to go there no mo!”

Chell loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She was known for taking care of her family. She was the glue that helped hold the relatives together.  She helped raise her nieces and nephews and it was normal to see her supporting them at their games. She was also one who was honest and did not hesitate to tell others what was right and wrong. Marchelle was a leader at home and at work who was well respected, proved herself to be a determined worker and always trustworthy.

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Marchelle gained her wings. She will be missed… no more daily conversations, aromas from her delicious foods, or just simply sitting around relaxing and talking with family and friends. Those who will often reflect on these and other precious memories include her husband, Michael Walker; mother: Eugenia Hopes of Bay City, TX; siblings: Alvin Bishop of Bay City, TX, Lethridge Callis of Freeport, TX, Manvel (Yusleney) Hopes of Carrolton, TX, and Mazie Bedford of Hallettsville, TX; mother-in-law, Mamie Walker Brown of Houston, TX; sister-in-law: Josephine (Ronald) Scott or Angleton, TX; nieces and nephews: Lawanna, Tawanna, Natasha, Juwan, Laylanna, Brianna, Chasity, Aaliyah, Mariyah, Jvon, Joel, Dominique, Randal, Kendall, and her favorite, Rapheal Jr.; along with a host of family, friends, and loved ones.

In these times we remember those who made the transition before her including her father Oneal Hopes, Jr., brother: Rapheal Hopes, Sr.; sister-in-law Lisa Callies; grandparents: Eldridge & Mertle Callies; aunt and uncles: Bennie Gee Callies, Elder Lee Callies, Pearl Lee Johnson, Author Lee Callies, Sr., Levi Callies, Jerline Roberson, and Doris Brown.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marchelle Annette (Hopes) Walker, please visit our floral store.