Nana Sue Carrillo

Mrs. Nana Sue (Hargrave) Carrillo, age 70, surrounded by her loving family, passed away on Monday, June 5, in Houston, TX. She retired as a Deputy Commissioner and Youth Bureau Director for Yates County in upstate New York in 2009. Nana graduated from Empire State College in 2003 with a Masters in Social Policy, and she studied Psychology and Art at Sonoma State University.

Nana was born in Manila, Philippines while her father was stationed there as a United States Army signal officer. She spent her childhood in Eureka, California, and graduated from Eureka Senior High School. Nana developed a love for art and music at an early age. She was also an avid gymnast in her youth, earning recognition at the state and national level. After graduating from Sonoma State University, Nana worked in the advertising department of Macy’s in San Francisco. It was there that she met her husband Rene Carrillo. They were married from 1977 until his passing in 2018.

After the birth of her son in 1978, Nana and her family relocated to the east coast. She lived in Darien, Connecticut until the birth of her daughter in 1981. She and her family settled in an old farmhouse in the town of Bluff Point, New York and lived there for 25 years. Perched on a beautiful, hilly landscape overlooking Keuka Lake, Nana filled her farmhouse and her friends’ and family’s lives with joy and warmth.

Nana worked in county government while she lived in Bluff Point, ultimately retiring as a Deputy Commissioner for Yates County. After retirement, she and her husband moved to Overland Park, Kansas until 2015. She and Rene then moved to San Antonio, Texas to be close to their children and grandchildren. She spent her final years in Austin, Texas.

Nana developed her passion for art throughout her life. She loved to paint natural scenes and landscapes using pastels, and enjoyed traveling to exhibit her art during her retirement. She was affiliated with many art societies, including the Pastel Society of America, Women Artists of the West, the Austin Pastel Society, the Pastel Society of Southeast Texas, the Pastel Society of the West Coast, and she was Membership Chair of the Texas Pastel Society. Her art has been featured in juried shows and exhibitions in the southwest since 2013. Some of her favorite pastel pieces can be viewed at nanacarrillo.com.

Nana was preceded in death by her parents Amos Walter Hargrave and Leta Colleen (Converse) Hargrave; and her husband Rene Carrillo. She is survived by her children Nino Carrillo and wife Susie, Pilar Taylor and husband Peter; grandchildren Taylor Carrillo, Avery Carrillo, Olivia Carrillo, Maya Taylor, Hugo Taylor; brother Amos Blynn Hargrave and wife Michele Bergman of Lawrence Kansas, many beloved cousins and friends, and her rescue dog Lolly.

Please visit the carrillonana.com

Memorial ServiceSaturday October 21, 2023 at 11amSt. Christopher's Episcopal Church8724 Travis Hills DrAustin, TX 78735