Julia Ann Pax, 81, died Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Brownwood, according to her obituary published by Brownwood News. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church in Priddy, followed by a celebration of life gathering for family and friends.
Heartland Funeral Home in Early is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made in Pax’s honor to the Zion Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund at P.O. Box Drawer B, Priddy, TX 76870. The family is also accepting online condolences, memories and tributes through Heartland Funeral Home’s website.
A life rooted in family and service
Pax was born July 24, 1945, in Brownwood to Olin and Virginia Goerdel. She graduated from high school in May 1963 and later attended Nixon-Clay Commercial College, after which she worked in Austin.
She married Melvin Pax on June 19, 1965. The couple lived in Priddy, where they raised their two daughters, Gina and Sonya. After her marriage, Pax was primarily a homemaker while also working a variety of jobs over the years.
Her work included a secretarial position at Childress & Cruzcosa Clinic & Hospital in Goldthwaite. She also operated a home business selling Sara Coventry Jewelry and Avon and worked at Tiemann’s Mistletoe Packing, Schuster’s of Texas, Priddy Plants, Perry’s Variety Store and Hohertz Grocery.
The obituary said Pax especially enjoyed interacting with customers throughout her working life.
Remembered for gardening and learning
In 2007, Pax attended the Christian Women’s Job Corp in Brownwood, where she learned new computer skills and made new friends.
She was also an avid gardener, known for her green thumb and her love of tending flowers and plants as they grew. That interest became one of the qualities family and friends remembered about her.
Pax is survived by her daughters, Gina Pax of Austin and Sonya Pax of Scottsdale, Arizona; her sisters, Shirley Burt of Gatesville and Jane Cooley of Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Pax; her parents, Olin and Virginia Goerdel; and her brothers, Clayton, Larry and Troy.