Jeanne was a devoted mother to her three sons so she was very picky about their choices in spouses. Luckily, she eventually was ok with Sean’s choice. She would do anything for her sons and when we would visit, she would make sure all their favorite foods were made… like blueberry banana pie and lemon chicken. 

Jeanne was a doer. My earliest memories are her and Les building endless rock walls at the house they loved in Cloudcroft, NM. Les was her husband but also her best friend so she took golf lessons so they could play together when he retired. When we visited she was always the first to volunteer to go on a hike on the old train station road, or fish with the kids or play games at night. 

Jeanne was also a talented craftsperson. She made numerous Indian dolls with intricate clothing and bead work putting much research into the designs to be authentic. She was also a perfectionist at everything she did and would fiddle with something she made for hours to make it look just right.

My mother-in-law was also a very opinionated person. She never hid what she was thinking even when she maybe should have. She was one of the few people with a “Black Lives Matter” sign in her yard in the very republican area of Georgetown, TX and proudly displayed her “I’m a democrat” sticker on her car. She was also a very political person and probably watched too much CNN for her own good. 

Finally, Jeanne’s unconditional love for her family is what I will remember the most about her and I hope she knew that she was loved as much by us.

I'm not sure if it's because she grew up on a farm or because she raised three boys but growing up I remember that Nanu could always see through any of our bullshit. If any of her grandkids were up to no good, she knew, but didn't seem to mind. In fact, there was always a sparkle in her eye of mischief, and I think she actually enjoyed any defiance that didn't impune her sense of justice or threaten her boys. What I will remember most about Nanu is the ferocity with which she loved her family. My fondest memories of Nanu and Grampy were our summer trips to Cloudcroft. It didn't matter what we were doing, from golf, going to the horse races, hiking the old railroad trail, Nanu demanded to be there. She refused to miss one second where she could be next to Grampy or dad. Another thing I won't forget is how she couldn't just sit down and watch while others were busy. She relentlessly asked if anyone anywhere needed help doing something and was never going to be satisfied if someone was cooking or cleaning or doing anything productive without her involvement. Nanu was a devoted wife, tenacious mother, but to me specifically was a loving grandmother who always had to be greeted with an aggressive hug and command that i sit right next to her and visit. She will be missed.

Nanu was a maker: of native crafts from the Oklahoma tribes, of conversation or 'visiting', and of traditions.
My first memory of her is of her art, as it had always been around me from the time I was born via Cherokee dolls (which scared the hell out of me as a child) and various shields and tomahawks about the house. I didn't know coffee actually came from tins - I always had figured Swiss Mocha was a brand of needle and yarn. While I didn't inherit her knack with a paint brush or sewing kit, I did pick up a few things around the kitchen. Whether she was there or not, every holiday was marked with her pies and sweet potato casserole. Regardless of if we got the recipe right, she would always remark that whatever meal she was eating that moment was the best one ever, which was a real confidence boost to whomever was cooking. 
Though my grandmother is gone, her presence endures in the things she's created, the recipe cards smudged with decades of stains, and the memories that continue to shape every family gathering.

My mother was a spitfire. At 90 she was still waking two miles a day and putting democratic posters in her yard in Burnet County! She was a tireless advocate of racial equality and equality and justice for all individuals. Amazing for a person born and raised in a rural county in northeastern Oklahoma. 
Some of my great memories are around Halloween - one of my mother’s favorite holidays. She made me and my brothers elaborate costumes every year that involved loads of work. Another set of memories are Christmas- we had great traditions around Christmas Eve (when we opened presents) and Christmas morning which included a huge breakfast. It took me until adulthood to realize who worked tirelessly making meals, cleaning up afterward and still having time for a walk. 
My mother threw nickels around like manhole covers and lo and behold her 3 children graduated college with zero debt. 
When my parents retired they moved to Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and had many wonderful years playing golf with my dad and traveling.  My mother loved her children with all her heart and soul and she will be missed.

I cherish memories with Nanu and Grammy up in the cabin in Cloudcroft, where we played board games, and I watched her beadwork while she explained the significance of the regalia of our Indigenous heritage that painted every wall of the house. I make her brownies every single year. The smell of coffee reminds me of her. While I couldn’t be there, I went to the local Buddhist temple and made merit in her honor (though she herself wasn’t religious! Kind of a hoot). One of the offerings I made, and left with the monks, was a perler bead image of the 7 sacred directions in Cherokee spirituality— North. south, East, West, Above, Below, and Here. I made the spider from the fire origin story of the Water Spider. It sits on a small collection of items I have on my desk this week, including coffee, honey, seltzer water, peanut butter and strawberry jelly, and one of my antidepressants, just to keep it light. I am so grateful I was able to see her before my journey. I hope to see everyone soon.

OBITUARIO

Jeanne Annette McNelis

6 octubre, 1931 – 6 julio, 2025

Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home

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