Arla Mae Schwertner, 85, of Big Lake, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Viewing will be from 11:00 am-5:30 pm, Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Englunds Chapel. Visitation will be from 5:30-6:30 pm Thursday, followed by a Rosary Service at 6:30 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am Friday, January 9, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Slaton.  Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery in Slaton.  Arrangements are by Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton.

Arla was born on the family farm on July 26, 1940 to Oscar and Wilhelmina Neugebauer, back in the days when they didn’t have electricity, indoor toilets, or any other modern conveniences.  She witnessed many changes throughout her lifetime. 

She worked hard her whole life, working on the farm and raising 5 children. She was old school, plain and simple, working hard in the cotton fields or cow lots, and was a homemaker. She was a master seamstress, and loved sewing any and everything, making quilts from all material scraps. She had a talent for arts and crafts and loved giving homemade gifts to her family and friends.  If she saw something unique, she would try to make it herself, putting her spin on it.  She also had a knack for making crosses and angels.

She was a fierce competitor while playing cards and dominoes and loved a good joke.

Arla was known as Ma by her grandkids and had unique and quirky nicknames for her kids and grandkids. She had many dear friends over her lifetime that she loved and considered as family. Not only was she loved by her family, but also by special friends of her children that considered her as their “bonus mom” and grandmother.  They will all cherish her memory and the life she lived. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lawrence Schwertner; her sister, Gertrude Thomas; and her brother, Alvin “Buddy” Neugebauer.

Arla is survived by her daughters, Carla Love and her husband, Jimmy of Austin and Laura Douglas and her husband, Don of  Midland; her sons, Michael Schwertner and his wife, Diann of Big Lake, Daniel Schwertner and his wife, Susan of Big Lake and Tony Schwertner and his wife,  J.J. of Casselberry, Florida; her brother, Weldon Neugebauer of Slaton; her grandchildren, Amanda, Lawson, Caleb, Aiden, and Archer; and several step grandchildren and great-grandchildren.