Annie Underwood

Born: May 19, 1928 in Houston, TX to Henry & Salina Williams.

Preceded in death by: Parents Henry & Salina Williams, 1st husband Cecil Underwood, 2nd husband Kenneth Connell, and oldest brother Jack Williams.

Survived by: Son Mark & daughter-in-law Connie Underwood of Arlington, TX; daughter Debbie & son-in-law Jim Gilbert of Spring, TX; granddaughter Laurie Weiand of Arlington, TX; grandson Michael Underwood of Arlington, TX; 3 great grandsons Aidan, Colin & Corbin Weiand of Arlington, TX; youngest brother Nathan (Bubba) & sister-in-law Hazel Williams of Longwood, TX; niece Kathy & her husband Harold Holtzclaw of Bryan, TX; nephew Dwayne & his wife Mary Williams of Longwood, TX; niece Elizabeth & her husband David Turner of Orange, TX; sister-in-law Mary Williams Brinkley (oldest brother’s wife) of Orange, TX.

Graduated: 1946, Milby High School, Houston, TX.

Married: 1949 to Cecil Underwood for 19 years.

Single: For 31 years following that marriage.

Re-married: 1999 to 2016 to Kenneth Connell for 17 years. They met thru the Jacinto City Republican Party.

Job history:

* Babysat for children of friends/family in own home for several years early on.

* Worked in Bookkeeping/Accounting Dept. of Sears store on Wayside in Houston for several years after that.

* 1965 to 1995 - Worked as Bookkeeping Dept. Librarian for Texas Commerce Bank in downtown Houston in old Gulf Bldg. .

Retired: 1995 after 30 years of service at Texas Commerce Bank. .

Passions / hobbies / interests:

* Yardwork, gardening, plants – extremely passionate and meticulous - inherited green thumb from her mother & father.

* Cats – extremely passionate about all things related to cats – collected, pampered and took care of stray cats inside/outside house for several decades. And every cat in Jacinto City knew where to go for all their meals!

* Her family’s pets – loved hugging & kissing on all her family’s pets throughout the years.

* Music – Loved to sing in Texas Commerce Bank Annual Christmas Choir for 25 years. Loved to play her lap Hawaiian guitar and mandolin in earlier years. Loved Gospel Quartet groups & attending their concerts. Loved all the old standard hymns. Loved singing Christmas carols. Debbie took her to concerts to see some of her favorite entertainers like Wayne Newton, Ingelbert Humperdink,Tom Jones, Steve Lawrence & Edie Gourmet, and Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass.

* Favorite song of all time: Glenn Miller Band’s “In The Mood” which our Galena Park High School Band played at every football game.

* Favorite country western singer: Eddie Arnold.

* Favorite movies of all time: Sound of Music with Julie Andrews & Shenandoah with James Stewart.

* Sewing, crochet, furniture upholstering – excellent seamstress throughout years – crocheted Mark & Debbie’s baby sweaters & caps – made mother/daughter Easter dresses and Mark’s childhood suits & jackets, as well as all Debbie’s Barbie doll clothes.

* Dallas Cowboy football team, Coach Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders & Dallas Cowboy Monthly Magazine – and she knew all their names!

* Massive jig saw puzzles: Spent hours at dining room table piecing together.

* Collector of many things: All things Avon like jewelry, mugs, etc. – ceramic dogs & cats to display.

* Dining at restaurants & huge holiday family meals – it was one of her greatest joys & simplest pleasures.

Her awesome Faith:

* Born again Christian - very strong faith all her life – was influenced by her mother early in her childhood – strived to teach Gospel & instill that faith in her own children and down the family line.

* Loved Jesus Christ & God with all her being – shared the Gospel with all her family, friends, neighbors, coworkers & contacts throughout her entire life – wanted everyone to be prepared for the Rapture with Second Coming of Jesus Christ or death (whichever came first) – to know absolutely sure where you would spend eternity.

* Attended Assembly of God Church in Denver Harbor area, old Lakewood Church site close to her house, Second Baptist Church of Jacinto City with husband Ken, then back to new Lakewood Church site with Jim & Debbie until she moved into Crockett nursing facility 5 years ago. She was able to attend Sunday morning church services in facility Dining Room which local Crockett pastor hosted for majority of her time there.

SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN OF GOD.

Her infectious laughter:

When she got tickled – it was so contagious - you laughed at her laughter even more than just whatever funny thing it