Zack Ertis Pannell

Zack Ertis Pannell, beloved husband, father, and brother, completed his journey in this life Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the age of 91. Zack passed away peacefully at home with his wife of 69 years by his bedside.

Zack was born on January 29, 1935, at Delwin, TX, the firstborn of Floyd and Jane Pannell. Most of Zack's youth was spent in the Texas Panhandle. He attended high school at Tulia, Texas, where he was an outstanding athlete, lettering in both football and basketball every year. He graduated from Tulia High School in 1953 and was presented the "Top Student Award". Zack enrolled in Baylor University in 1953, where he majored in Speech/Radio. Because he loved music, Zack joined a Baylor choral group where he met Nancy Roberts from Hamilton, TX. On a choir tour to Chicago in 1956, Zack and Nancy discovered they enjoyed each other's company.

Upon arrival, Zack invited Nancy to walk with him to a movie theater to see the musical, Oklahoma. Hence, those two young persons, each from small Texas towns, had their first date in Chicago, Illinois. From then on, they were a couple. At Christmas, Zack presented an engagement ring to Nancy, and they married the following Spring. Two children eventually completed their family, Kenny and Carolyn.

In the Fall of 1959 Zack enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to study religious education. He finished his study there in 1962.

Zack's professional career as an ordained minister spanned thirty-nine years. He served churches in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. He believed his spiritual calling was to establish vital religious education programs in churches by training staff and developing leadership for church Bible studies.

Zack pursued his love of music by joining The Singing Men of Texas choral group and performed with them across the state and internationally for several years. Zack loved his family, his work, and the many relationships formed over his years of ministry.

Zack was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Dell Milan, and his daughter, Carolyn. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Pannell, his son, Kenny Pannell, his two sisters, Loana Webb and Helen Messler, four grandchildren, Amy Freyre, Molly Springate, Jennifer Miller, Jordan Miller, and four great-grandchildren, Gage, Henry, Hudson, and Emmy.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas.

Zack will be laid to rest at Roselawn Memorial Park immediately following the service.