Nan Richardson

Emily Nan Townsend Richardson, 83, of College Station, Texas, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026, at her home. Nan was born July 18, 1942, in Beaumont, Texas, to J.L. Townsend and Jessie Faye Smyly Townsend. She was the oldest of six children.

Nan met the love of her life, Reggie Richardson, while she was a student at Lamar University and Reggie was at Texas A&M. They married in Beaumont in 1963 after Reggie’s graduation. Nan embraced the life of an Air Force officer’s wife and welcomed their first daughter, Melissa, in 1964, while Reggie was stationed in Selma, Alabama.

When the family settled in Houston after Reggie’s service, Nan made it home the way she made everywhere home; completely and without hesitation. She gave her time to causes she believed in, volunteering with the Assistance League of Houston. In 1983, the family relocated to Dallas where Nan was active in local charities, until returning to Houston in 1989. Again, she found ways to serve and dedicated time and energy as a volunteer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Throughout those years of change, Nan was the constant who made every house a home and every move felt like a fresh start.

In 2000, Nan and Reggie retired to College Station, where Nan indulged her passion for antiquing and maintained a small hobby business around it for many years.

Nan loved Texas A&M nearly as much as Reggie did. For decades she was at the heart of Aggie tailgates, welcoming friends and family with the energy and warmth she brought to everything she hosted. That same spirit filled every family holiday, where Nan was the hub who made sure the table was full and everyone felt at home. For years, the lake house at Horseshoe Bay; shared with some of Reggie’s PricewaterhouseCoopers partners; was another gathering place Nan made her own, a spot where friendships ran deep and the door was always open.

Nan and Reggie shared a lifelong love of dachshunds, and there was rarely a time in their life together when one wasn’t underfoot.

Nan was a woman of faith and carried her church membership with her through every move, first as a longtime member at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, followed by Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, and reuniting with her community at Chapelwood in Houston, and finally at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station.

After Reggie’s passing, Nan honored his legacy by endowing a scholarship in the Texas A&M accounting program, a fitting tribute to a man who loved his university and his profession so deeply.

Nan remained in College Station after Reggie’s passing, where she was surrounded by people who loved her and looked after her with extraordinary care. The family owes debts that cannot be repaid to those who made all the difference in her final years. Gary Richardson, Reggie’s nephew, stepped forward with uncommon devotion, present consistently, selflessly, and without hesitation, making certain Nan’s care was always the best. Louisa Navarro, Nan’s caregiver, went beyond the professional and her presence was a gift. Bonnie Robinson was a true friend who never stopped showing up and never stopped looking out for Nan. And the family is profoundly grateful to Billy Atkinson, who took on the responsibility of estate executor after the passing of Carol Philips, who had originally served in that role. Carol and Billy were both partners with Reggie at PricewaterhouseCoopers and lifelong friends to Reggie and Nan. Each took on that responsibility out of friendship.

Nan is preceded in death by her parents, J.L. Townsend and Jessie Faye Smyly Townsend; her brother, Jack Lee Townsend; her husband, Arthur “Reggie” Richardson; and her daughter, Melissa Richardson Altizer.

She is survived by her daughter, Meredith (Chris) Hayes of Rye, NH; granddaughters, Kendall (Adam) Fitko of San Antonio and their children Judson and Eleanor, and Kirby Altizer (Blake Whitten) of New Braunfels; nephew, Gary (Monica) Richardson of College Station; niece, Denise (Dave) Bailey of College Station; Nan’s siblings, Jerry (Peggy) Townsend, Kay Townsend Hare, Cecelia (Billy) Townsend Barclay, and Sue Townsend Chaplin; and Nan’s dog, Rudy.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 11 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Chapel, 2901 Texas Avenue South, College Station, Texas 77845. Services will be Friday, June 12 at 1:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Chapel College Station, with a reception to follow. Interment will be private for her family.

Memorials may be made in her name to the AR Richardson Scholarship in Accounting through the Texas A&M Foundation or to Christ Church building fund at 4201 State Hwy 6 South, College Station, Texas 77845.