Nanette Jenkins Fuller

Nanette Jenkins Fuller was born February 29,1928 on Leap Year’s Day in Eunice, Louisiana. She was the second eldest of the six children of Mark Roy Jenkins and Mabel Cox Jenkins. A Depression child growing up in the 1930s on a rice farm in Louisiana, Nanette learned the value of hard work and frugality in her early years. Always dependable and sensible, her brother, Mike says: “She was selfless, capable, self-sufficient, and there for everyone. She was the loving and responsible sister in our family- like a second incarnation of our mom.”

Nan and her 2 sisters went off to LSU, where she was an Alpha Delta Pi sweetheart and tennis star. Graduating with an Accounting degree, she moved to Houston to work for Humble Oil. She met Tommy Fuller hitching a ride with him to Austin (to meet another boyfriend!) But that guy didn’t stand a chance—Nan and Tommy were married in June,1950.

They lived in Houston, designing and building -with their own hands- a home there, and welcomed their first two children. In 1959, Tommy accepted the promotion in the San Francisco Bay Area as Engineer of Bridges for Southern Pacific Railroad.

They designed a house in the hills of San Carlos overlooking the Bay. Tommy played golf and took the commuter train up to The City every day for work. Nan was a devoted wife and mother to three children now. Later, she worked in the school district offices. It was a “Golden” time to live in California in the 60’s and 70’s, and the family took advantage of seeing the redwoods, mountains and the beautiful, historic state.

But Texas (and family) called them back and, retiring early from SP in 1981, Nan and Tommy moved back to Austin- to a new house on Charred Oak Drive. Nan worked for the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners office. Tommy did engineering consulting work and played a lot of golf. There were weddings and grandbabies. Life was good.

Nan took care of Tommy in the last couple of years before he died in 1992. She never remarried, and lived another 32 years after he passed. Nan traveled the world- with groups, by herself, with family. She was fearless. She loved competitive bridge, did her own taxes, and mowed her lawn into her 90’s. Nan’s Thanksgiving meals were legendary, and she was “Mimi” to her 7 grandchildren.

Strong and independent literally until the end, Nan was SO ready to go be with Jesus in Heaven. She was a woman of lifelong faith in the Lord. We honor her as our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. There will never be anyone like her.

Nanette is survived by her daughter, Amanda Musser (Steve), son Thomas Lester Fuller Jr.

(Deina), and daughter, Amy Roberts (Dan). Grandchildren are Patrick and Kyle (Stacy) Haubold, Matthew (Sunny), Laura, and Jonathan (Kendyl) Fuller, Angelynn and Andrew Roberts. Nan had 8 great-grandchildren as well. She is also survived by her two youngest brothers, Dr. Mark Roy Jenkins II, of Blanco, Texas and Michael D. Jenkins of Ivins, Utah.

Finally, the family would like to thank Nan‘s MOST wonderful, compassionate neighbors on Charred Oak. As her children did not live in town, these neighbors became like family over the years- when they would visit about the weather, squirrels and deer, and picking up sticks in the yard. In the end they saved her life when she fell outside, and got her to the hospital. We are so grateful.

Nan passed in Waco, Texas on Feb 12, 2024, with her loving family at her bedside.