JACQUE NELL HUNTER HOLLAND

1931-2018

Jacque Nell Holland, passed away on Wednesday, the 17th of October, in Houston, Texas, less than one month shy of her 87th birthday. Jacque was born on the 9th of November, 1931, Dallas, Texas, the only child of Jacque Chisholm and George David Hunter. Jacque’s parents lived with relatives in Dallas during the early period of the Great Depression until her father found employment in the East Texas Oilfield. For the next fifteen years Jacque and her mother traveled with her father, George Hunter, throughout the states of Illinois, Nebraska and Texas, moving frequently to oilfield boomtowns. During summer months Jacque visited her grandparent’s farm in Zephyr, Texas eating cold watermelon and her grandmother’s chicken and dumplings. Because her working father was absent from home, Jacque developed a close relationship with her grandfather, “Dado”, who lived with the family, traveling with them on frequent moves. Two of Jacque’s early memorable childhood experiences were “smelling autumn’s burning leaves” and walking in the snow, to school, bundled up on cold winter days in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

In the year 1946, her parents chose Abilene, Texas, an emerging oil center in north central Texas, as permanent residence, in order for Jacque to attend high school, uninterrupted. Jacque met the love of her life, David Scott (Scotty) Holland, high school sweetheart, and together the two developed lifelong relationships with close friends. Jacque enrolled at North Texas State, majoring in music, but leaving before graduation in order to marry her true love, in 1952.

Jacque gave birth to her first son, David Scott, Jr. in 1953, while her husband served in the USAF, at Biloxi, Mississippi. Jacque gave birth to her second son, Terrence Hunter, born in 1956, in Austin, Texas while her husband attended the University of Texas.

Jacque Nell and Scotty moved to Midland, Texas in 1957, the two young parents beginning their formative years of marriage. In addition to her role as mother, Jacque Nell also sang in the Midland Symphony and Chorale, volunteered for Midland Memorial Hospital (Pink Ladies), served as a den mother of Cub Scouts and supervised Halloween carnivals at several school PTA’s.

In 1968 Jacque and Scotty moved to Lafayette, Louisiana. She adapted to a new and different, yet exciting, lifestyle, in contrast to twelve years spent in West Texas. Friends were quickly made from “oilfield fraternity” members and a Church of Christ congregation. Time spent in Lafayette, treasured and memorable, were short as her family moved to Houston, in 1971. Jacque and her husband moved to their one and only home in Houston, where they would remain, establishing endearing relationships with many friends.

At her last port of call, Houston, Jacque has resided for nearly 50 years. She was an avid participant and follower of the performing arts, including symphony and opera. She instilled the value of art and literature in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She was a devout Christian, attending Church of Christ congregations at “Sharpstown”, “Memorial”, and “Bering”. Jacque always had a smile for everyone and truly impacted the lives of many.

The family wishes to especially thank Texas Home Care Partners by enabling Jacque to remain in her home. We are grateful to caretakers Cathy Madden, Lori Devoto and Norma DeLeon, who exhibited professionalism in homecare with thoughtfulness, concern and love.

Jacque was preceded in death by her parents and loving husband. She is survived by her sons, David Scott Holland and wife Dashika, San Antonio, Texas, Terrence Hunter Holland and wife Nita, Midland, Texas, grandchildren; Sara Michele Blatnick and husband Matthew Blatnick, Flowermound, Texas, Katie Dyan Holland, Ft. Worth, Texas, and Travis Jared Holland and wife Krystal Cathleen and great-grandchildren; Lyla Grace, Cayson Scott, and Cole Joseph Holland of San Antonio, Texas.

A funeral service is to be conducted at five o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 20th of October, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis &Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during the reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

The interment is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 22nd of October, at Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery, 5750 Hwy 277 South, Abilene, Texas 79606.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contribution’s in Mrs. Holland’s name be directed to the Houston Symphony, 615 Louisiana Street #102, Houston, TX 77002 (https:// www.houstonsymphony.org/ donate-now/); or the charity of one’s choice