Pauline Lester Nolen

On April 15, 2022, the world lost a truly special human being after gracing all who knew her for 96+ years. Pauline Lester Nolen passed away peacefully at Houston Hospice on Good Friday as she left to meet her maker and to join her husband of 50 years. Pauline (Polly) Lester was delivered by mid-wife on the family farm near Collierville, Mississippi to Mamie Blackwell Lester and Lee Lester on July 25, 1925 and was the youngest of 9 children, all of whom preceded Pauline in death. She married James Arnold Nolen on December 20, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee before moving to Bellaire, Texas in 1954 where they raised their three children: Jimmy, Perry and Mark Nolen. Always willing to assist others and never an unkind word, Pauline’s smile told you everything you needed to know about this extraordinary mother, wife, sister and friend.

Pauline’s father, Lee Lester, died of pneumonia when she was only 9 months old, leaving her mother, Mamie and her oldest brothers, Willie and Herman, to raise Polly and her three other brothers, J.W., Lee Jr., and Eugene as well as her three sisters, Lela, Ruby and Jessie. There were so many kids that Pauline and many of her siblings did not have middle names. After high school, Pauline attended Business School in Memphis and worked at a local bank where she met her husband, Jim, who had returned from the Navy after serving in the Pacific during WWII. Jim had a son, Russell, from a previous marriage and Pauline’s first child, Jim Jr., was born in Memphis in 1952 followed by their second son, Perry, in 1953. Jim Sr. worked for Anderson Clayton & Co. in Memphis for several years before being transferred to Houston in 1954 and retiring after 40 years of service in 1987. Jim and Pauline bought a house in Bellaire where they would live for over 60 years and had their third child, Mark, in 1957. Pauline and Jim were long-time members of West University Baptist Church.

After the kids were grown, Pauline started selling real estate in Houston and after Jim’s retirement, they formed a successful real estate agency together. Both Jim and Pauline loved to travel and were able to visit most of the continents. After Jim’s death in 1997, Pauline was fortunate to have met Bob Dawson who idolized her and loved taking her for dinner and dancing every week. After Bob Dawson passed, Pauline met Bob Sholes, who was her constant companion until he passed. Both Bobs loved playing poker with Pauline and the rest of her family. Unfortunately, Pauline suffered a TIA in 2012 that caused her to suffer dementia that progressively worsened over the next 10 years. The family wishes to acknowledge the work that Perry Nolen did as her trustee and managing her affairs as well as Pat Orlando, her long-time caregiver.

Pauline is preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, James A Nolen. She is survived by her three sons: Jim Nolen Jr. and wife, Lorna Belk; Perry and Cindy Nolen; and Mark and Jodi Nolen. Her step-son, Russell Nolen, preceded her in death, but she is survived by Russ’ ex-wife, Charlotte. Pauline is also survived by 10 grandkids: Nicholas Nolen; Zachary Nolen; Robert (Bob) Nolen and his spouse, Carrie; Rachel and her husband, Chris Palmarozzi; Blake Hill and his wife, Emily; Kristen Nolen; Kellie Hastings and her husband, Harry; Ashlie Rainwater and her husband, Bubba; Debbie Woods and her husband, Charlie; and Pam Gilmore and her husband, Mike. She was blessed with 11 great grandkids: Wells and Nolen Hastings; Parker Nolen; Amelia Hill; Cort, Caden and Holland Rainwater; Chelsea and Vivian Woods; and Dalton and Dillon Gilmore. Due to having such a large family, Pauline has dozens of nieces and nephews too numerous to list but whom she considered to be like her own children.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donating to the Alzheimer's Foundation, Houston Hospice (Medical Center) or Houston Pets Alive.

A visitation for Pauline will be held Monday, April 25, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St, Bellaire, Texas. A funeral service will occur Monday, April 25, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St, Bellaire, Texas. A graveside service will occur Monday, April 25, 2022 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Nolen family.