Shelley Brazelton

Shelley lived life to its fullest and sought adventure, creativity and fun wherever she could find it. She grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and attended high school at Ray High School. Through this South Texas upbringing, she developed a lifelong love of the outdoors including hunting and fishing. After high school, Shelley attended the University of Texas where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma and voted most beautiful freshman year.

It was in Austin where she met the love of her life, Lew Brazelton. Legend has it that Shelley once disrupted a University of Texas baseball practice because she climbed a tree to watch Lew play but fell onto the field when the tree branch snapped. Lew and Shelley adored each other and enjoyed a 62-year marriage that became stronger every year.

They raised four children together, and she gave her children the best gift of all - unconditional love. Of all her roles in life, being a mom is what she excelled at most. Shelley was beloved by not only her children, but also by all her children’s friends. She touched countless lives and had an uncanny ability to connect with people of all ages through her absolute authenticity and quick wit.

As much as Shelley loved being a mom, she relished her role as a Grandmother. “Big Shelley” was adored by all her grandkids. She loved to watch them all perform whether on the athletic field or the stage. They absorbed her life wisdom and laughed at her wicked sense of humor. Shelley was incredibly artistic and became an expert jeweler. The majority of pieces created were given to her children and grandchildren, the rest were sold “below cost” as Lew loved to say. A voracious reader, Shelley loved to share book ideas and debate topics with her family and friends.

Shelley cherished any activity with her family but particularly enjoyed a good South Texas bird hunt (for many years she was the best shot in the family) or a getaway weekend at the family’s ranch in Hunt, Texas. Whether at her home in Houston or in Hunt, Shelley would spend hours in the garden tending to her plants or joyfully calling out the birds that visited the numerous bird houses she constructed.

Shelley possessed a deep Christian faith. As her health declined later in life, her faith became even stronger. Shelley became a friend and mentor to many young women at Grace Bible Church, her home church and where her son West is the pastor. Her unwavering dependence on and trust in God, no matter the circumstances, was an example to all who knew her.

Shelley participated in many civic and social clubs including the River Oaks Garden Club, Town and Country Garden Club, the Argyle Club in San Antonio, the Houston Country Club and the Club at Comanche Trace in Kerrville.

Shelley is survived by her husband, Lewis Brazelton III; as well as her four loving children, Lewis Brazelton IV and his wife Cindie, Shelley Bracken and her husband Geoff, West Brazelton and his wife Mary, and Fred Brazelton and his wife Jessica; her ten grandchildren, Hattie Brazelton, Emmory Brazelton Hinton and her husband Locklin, Tatum Brazelton, Hank Bracken, Will Brazelton, Rebekah Brazelton, Annie Kate Brazelton, Avery Brazelton, Bess Brazelton and Lewis Brazelton; her sisters, Carolyn Bateman, Susan Paul and her husband Matt; and her brother, West Flato. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Westervelt Flato and Shelley Blount Flato; and her grandson Will Bracken.

The family would like to thank Dr. Marc Boom and his assistant Jill Kubesch as well as Dr. Timothy Connolly from Houston Methodist for their years of dedicated care for Shelley.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 18th of August, in the sanctuary of Grace Bible Church, 6325 Hurst Street in Houston. For those unable to attend the service, virtual attendance may be accessed by copying and pasting the following link into a new browser window:

https://www.youtube.com/live/5_gwPfd9IK8?feature=share

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the living room at the Church.

The family will gather for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.

In lieu of flowers or other customary remembrances, the family kindly asks that those desiring consider donations to Hilltop Adventures, an organization created to develop Christian community and discipleship through outdoor adventures by visiting www.hilltopadventures.org.