Nellen Kennon Hughens Brunson

Nellen Kennon Hughens Brunson died on September 13, 2024 following a car accident and ensuing pneumonia. She went to her eternal home surrounded by loving family in Fort Worth, TX. 

Nellen was born in Houston, Texas on February 11, 1932. She was raised in Houston by her parents, Louis H. and Elsbeth Rowe Kennon, her grandparents and two older sisters, Elsbeth Kennon Willard Armistead and Beverly Kennon Hugghins. 

She is survived by her three children: Harold Kennon Hughens (Jennifer) of Ft. Worth, Texas; Julie Elisabeth Hughens (John Corlett) of Charlottesville, Virginia; and Jeanne Hughens Brown (Eric) of Flower Mound, Texas. She was loved by her five grandchildren: Erin Hughens Neely (Brandon), Cara Hughens Lemaster (Tanner), Michael Hughens (Meredith), Madison Brown Ottoboni (Ryan), and Micah Brown. She loved on her eight great-grandchildren: Jackson, Ella Jane, Grace, Walker, Sutton, Charlie, Ruthie and James.

Nellen graduated in 1949 from San Jacinto High School, where she was a member of the Golden Gauchos. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Baylor University in 1953, where she was in the Peer Club (Delta Delta Delta). While at Baylor she met her future husband, Harold Hughens. They married in 1954 and lived in Ft. Worth while he completed his studies in seminary. Meanwhile, Nellen taught school for two years and then began their family. They lived in Richardson for six years and then moved to Monroe, Louisiana, where Harold became Associate Pastor at Parkview Baptist Church. During their nineteen years in Monroe, she completed a Master’s Degree in Education at Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) and became a specialist in teaching gifted children. She taught for six years at Carroll Jr. High School and eighteen at Lexington Elementary School. She was president of the Monroe City Classroom Teachers’ Association from 84-85 and retired from teaching in 1996. 

Nellen enjoyed sewing, gardening, music, reading and travel. She was active in the Music Guild, and sang with Masterworks and Kaleidoscope. She volunteered for the Symphony League and Hospice of NE Louisiana. She was a charter member of Northminster Church in Monroe.

After Harold’s death in 2004 from a lengthy illness, she married Nathan Bryant Brunson, a childhood friend, and returned to Houston to live. There she was active in Tallowood Baptist Church, where she taught ESL for ten years and sang in the choir. She was secretary for the Samuel Sorrell Chapter of the DAR and for the Daughters of Founders and Patriots, John Shepherd Chapter.

When Bryant passed away in 2024, Nellen moved to Fort Worth to be near her family. She was able to enjoy visits with them and to be in their midst at family gatherings.

In her later years she became a prolific writer of memoir and poetry. She was an avid reader and enjoyed sitting outside looking at the trees. She was an educator to the end.

Nellen will live on in the hearts and memories of her children and their families, nieces and nephews and many dear friends who knew her warm, loving nature, her intelligence and wit, her avid curiosity and interest, and her faith in a loving God.

Her life will be celebrated at a family gathering and she will be buried in Monroe, Louisiana at Mulhearn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Northminster Church, 2701 Lamy Lane, Monroe, LA 71201 or to the PKD Foundation, P.O. Box 871847, Kansas City, MO 64187.