Novelda Bloomquist

It was a Tuesday morning in 1937 when Novelda Clestine Spillar made her appearance to the family of Jesse and Alyce Spillar. Born at home in South Austin, she was the youngest of four with older brothers Vard and Max and older sister Charlotte. Novelda grew up in South Austin walking to St. Elmo Elementary and later attending Fulmore Jr. High and Travis High School, graduating in 1955. Novelda would fondly speak of her first job at the Hitching Post followed by a position at Brey & Jordan pharmacy where she kept track of bookkeeping. While working she completed her business school general degree.

It was a fateful day in 1958 that a coworker asked if she would join her on a double-date. This is when she met Grover Bloomquist, a widow with a baby daughter. She quickly set them up on a double-date with his best friend George and her best friend Beth. The two couples started their life-long friendship. Novelda married Grover on January 30th, 1960, adopting their daughter Tracy. She kept working at the pharmacy until Karen joined the family in 1963, and Renee’ shortly thereafter in 1964.

The family of 5 moved in South Austin to the “country” which consisted of 3 acres where Grover continued running his business from a shop in the back yard. They added horses, chickens, and an occasional cow to their land. A favorite memory was the family horse rides through the neighborhood after supper. Novelda raised her 3 daughters teaching them to appreciate gardening, animals, hating snakes, and most importantly, knowing Jesus. Every Sunday she took her family to Pleasant Hill Baptist church where she faithfully served teaching Sunday School and wherever there was a need. She added money to the family by providing childcare, later using her sewing skills by sewing drapes for local customers. Weekends were spent at her father’s 400 acre ranch in Wimberley. The weekend trips involved dropping bales of hay for the cows, creekbed treks of shaking trees for beloved pecans, swimming at Jacob’s Well, and riding horses.

It wasn’t until Karen and Renee` entered high school that she returned to work outside the home providing bookkeeping services. Later she learned how to operate IBM’s Computers and medical billing, working 25 more years for radiology doctors throughout Austin. Over the years as her daughters married, Novelda discovered how delightful it was to have son-in-laws. She loved cooking roasts on Sundays and weekly hamburger dinners.

Grover and Novelda shared 40 years of marriage before he suddenly went to be with the Lord. As a widow, Novelda retired from her work in the medical field and relocated from their Shady Hollow home to a home next door to her daughter Renee’ in Spring, Texas. Her youngest granddaughter, Emily, was in 2nd grade. Grandma took over her afterschool care. She missed working, so she took a part-time job with Emily’s school district as a Crossing-Guard. Between the crossing guard duties and helping Emily with her homework, she was very busy. Novelda became a well-known person within the many families of Kleinwood. Ray and Renee teased her that they couldn’t take her out to eat without a child coming up and saying hello. Once Emily graduated from High School, Novelda decided it was time to retire from her second occupation. Before retiring, the Klein police department awarded her “Employee of the Year” for her dedicated service to the Klein School district.

Novelda was an active member of Champion Forest Baptist Church and volunteered in the intercessory prayer room, provided assistance with baptisms and visited the shut ins as well as those in need while being an active member of her church’s Adult Sunday School class. She faithfully visited her friends and planned events for her class. Novelda accompanied her daughters for annual birthday trips to Wimberley and the Austin area reminiscing and visiting friends and family.

Reluctantly she moved in 2022 from her beloved home to an Assisted Living facility and then a Memory Care facility where she lived out her remaining days.

Preceding Novelda in death was Grover Bloomquist, her sister Charlotte, brothers Max and Dean, brother-in-laws Eddie Bloomquist, Ray Hockett, Jack Paulson, Ernie French, Sister-in-laws Doris Bloomquist, Nancy Spillar, Mickie Spillar, Greta Spillar, and Bonnie French. Her beloved nephews Glenn Spillar and Sonny Roy Reeves, Jr.

Novelda is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Tracy & Jim Leigh, Karen & Shane Mustoe, Renee’ & Ray Duncan. She was a proud grandmother of grandson Brian and his wife Jennifer Mustoe, and 5 granddaughters and their husbands including Kristin and Matt Lore, Jennifer and Brian Neitsch, Lacey and Matt Guzman, Katy and Kendric Witt, and Emily Duncan. Novelda was further blessed as a great grandmother to 6 great-granddaughters and 6 great grandsons. Novelda was also blessed with wonderful Nieces and Nephews and their families which she loved deeply. Novelda’s best and faithful friend of many wonderful years, who continues to be a rock and supporter of her family, Beth (Zimpleman) Bowden and her daughters.

Novelda instilled the fear and admonition of the Lord in her girls, along with devotion for family and friends. She loved the Dallas Cowboys watching them faithfully during the fall football games. Her servant's heart was at the core of her being and she continued to pray for every family member and friend daily. Even in her last days her prayers were spoken aloud in her slumber. We rejoice at the thought of her entering the gates of Heaven to finally hear “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.