Gwendolyn Sue Chambliss

Gwen was born to Grady and Wanda Gee on Christmas Day, December 25, 1955, in Atlanta, Texas. She grew up in Lone Star, Texas where she enjoyed fishing with her dad and water skiing with her cousins on Lone Star Lake. Gwen was proud to be the baby of her family and loved to recount the adventures of her childhood. Gwen attended Daingerfield High School where she met her husband of 50 years, Neal Ray Chambliss.

Gwen and Neal moved to Austin in the early 70’s where they valued the laid-back lifestyle of South Austin. They enjoyed live music, fun times with friends, road trips home to the piney woods, and day trips to the hill country. She worked at the Internal Revenue Service for many years forming lifelong friendships with co-workers and trusted relationships with clients from across the country. She retired in 2018 and took a dream trip with Neal through New Mexico to Chinle, Arizona and the Grand Canyon.

As a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cousin - Gwen held many titles. She was known as Gwen, Aunt Sue, Aunt Gwen, Mom and G-ma. She loved fiercely and was always just a phone call away.

Her girls, Jessica and Jackie, were her light. She and Neal were fully involved with their activities and fostered their love of the outdoors, camping, and traveling. She loved to research the best routes, identify flowers, and keep handy supplies in her latest fanny pack. Gwen served as Girls Commissioner of the Hays Youth Soccer Association, spending many weekends at the soccer fields and working in the concession stand. She was also an active Girl Scout mom even if she had to buy most of the cookies her girls ate.

Gwen was an avid sports fan and did not hold back opinions of her favorite teams and players. Her home was a warm, generous environment where friends become family.

Gwen became a G-ma to her Lily in 2014. While her girls were her light, Lily was her joy, her truth, her favorite lullaby, and blue sky. G-ma kept the fridge stocked with Lily’s favorites such as cottage cheese and peaches, ice cream, and anything else Lily wanted. She fed Lily her first bite of cake in New Orleans, enjoyed flying with her to Arkansas to visit Jackie, took her walking down the beach, and entertained her countless afternoons. They share the same long legs and fun-loving spirit. G-ma was by far her favorite role.

Gwen was preceded in death by her husband, Neal Chambliss; her parents, Grady and Wanda Gee; sister, Gradie Jean McDonald; brother Doug Gee; and brother-in-law, Elmore Scott.

She is survived by her daughters Jessica Shelton and Jackie Chambliss, son-in-law Clay Shelton and granddaughter Lily Joy Shelton. She also leaves behind sisters-in-law, Anita Gee and Kay Scott, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends who will miss her deeply.

In no particular order, Gwen’s family will cherish:

Her Thanksgiving celebrations

Her quick wit, one liners and matchless sense of humor

The way the party never started until she arrived

Her “occasional” unsolicited, but usually correct, advice

Knowing she would be there, wherever there was, whenever you needed her

Her famous banana pudding, potato salad and chicken spaghetti

The stories of the past when everything was right.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans where she took Lily to see the butterflies. https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/donate

Family and friends are invited to gather for a simple celebration honoring the lives of Neal and Gwen Chambliss at the Texican Cafe in Manchaca any time from 1:00 - 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 14, 2023.