Rose-Clair Nelson Herrell

Rose-Clair Nelson Herrell has moved to the next phase of her spiritual journey. She died peacefully at home in her residence in Austin, Texas on August 21, 2005 at age 85. Rose-Clair was born February 13, 1920, in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended the University of Kansas where she met George Leslie Herrell, a student at the University of Missouri. Rose-Clair married George before he enlisted in the Marine Corps at the beginning of World War II. When he returned from the war Rose-Clair worked to support the couple while George completed his education at the University of Missouri. They had two children, a son Bruce Paul Herrell born in 1946 and a daughter Rande Kay Herrell born in 1950. George was a petroleum geologist and George and Rose-Clair raised their two children primarily in Northeast Texas and Northern Louisiana around the gas fields. Rose-Clair was a good homemaker and a devoted wife and mother. She served as Den mother for her son’s Cub Scout troop and Troop Leader for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She served as a part-time secretary/bookkeeper for her church in order to be available for her children’s after school activities. Later, when her son was in college and her daughter in high school, Rose-Clair entered the workforce full time as a full charge bookkeeper. Rose-Clair worked for New York Furniture and Townsend’s Furniture of Shreveport, Louisiana for over 20 years. Rose-Clair discovered the teachings of the non-denominational Unity church and she and George became active supporting members of the Shreveport Unity church. Rose-Clair became a licensed Unity teacher and devoted countless hours teaching Sunday school for adults and children and playing the organ for the church on a substitute basis. As a licensed teacher, Rose-Clair celebrated several weddings in the Shreveport Unity church. After George’s death in 1993, Rose-Clair moved to Austin, Texas to be close to her daughter’s family. Rose-Clair had two grandsons whom she cherished, Brandon Justice Brooks born in 1981 and Morgan Madison Brooks born in 1987. Upon arriving in Austin, she provided after school care for her grandsons, assisting them with homework, school projects and after school activities. As they grew older she once again entered the workforce as a bookkeeper for Falcon Insurance Agency of Austin, Texas. Rose-Clair worked for Falcon until they moved their head quarters to Kerrville Texas and she retired at age 82. Rose-Clair was extremely proud of her grandsons. Her oldest grandson, Brandon Brooks, is a graduate of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and Southern Methodist University. Her youngest grandson, Morgan Brooks is a graduate of Westlake High School and currently attends Vanderbilt University. Her parents, Clarence James Nelson and Myrtle Gadbois Nelson, her sisters, Myrtle Armentrout and Dorothy Stroud, and her brother Jimmy Nelson preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Rande Herrell; son-in-law, Barry Brooks; grandsons, Brandon Brooks and Morgan Brooks; and son, Bruce Herrell. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265-0309 or online at www.Komen.org. A memorial service celebrating the Rose-Clair’s life will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on N. Lamar, with David Smith officiating.