LaNelle Leonard Wagner

She had thousands of stories to tell.

LaNelle was born January 21, 1930 in Houston Texas to Frank Winston and Minnie Burel Leonard (Honey) Booker.

Houston was a different place then — her playground was a dairy farm where the busy Galleria is now located.

She attended Sidney Lanier Junior High School and Mirabeau B. Lamar High School. She then pursued higher education and graduated from Lon Morris College, Sam Houston State University and University of Houston, earning degrees in education and library science.

She taught school in Sweeny and Houston ISD and was instrumental in establishing reading clinics for children who struggled to read.

She met her husband, Breckenridge Wagner, at a church picnic. They married June 16, 1955 at Bering Methodist Church. This union lasted for 49 years until Breck's passing in 2004.

LaNelle was a proud 6th generation native Texan. After retiring to Independence Texas, she acted as Historical Chairman of Washington County. She helped secure over 19 Historical Markers for families and other areas of historical importance. Her other passion was quilting and spent many hours making quilts for her family and friends.

She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Daughters of the Confederacy.

LaNelle was also a member of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, the National Chapter of the Hudson, Essex and Terraplane Club, and the South Texas Hudson Club. She loved to attend the rallies and meets with her husband, Breck. While Breck was kicking tires and swapping parts at rallies and meets, she would go to the local quilting shop and in search of new materials to use in her beautiful sewing projects.

She is predeceased by her parents, Frank and Minnie Booker; brothers: Frank Winston Jr, and Robert Lamar Booker, her dear husband Breck and daughter Vivian Elizabeth.

Survivors include her daughter Dr. Julia Wagner Palmer and husband Willard Palmer, son B. Leonard Wagner and wife Evelyn Wagner and grandsons Robert Wagner, and Evan Scott.

Special thanks to her extended family: Sylvia and Shorty Guerra, Griselda Cerda, Karen Walker, Avanti at Augusta Pines Assisted Living, and Devotion Hospice. Their loving care and attention made all the difference when her stories were all told.