Glenda Joyce Hounsel was born April 6, 1937, in Gladewater, TX, to Lyric Collins Hounsel and Blanche Alta Lynch. She went to be with Jesus on Thursday, October 7, 2021.
Glenda graduated from high school in White Oak, TX, in 1955. She served as a cheerleader, member of FHA, and on the commercial club, yearbook staff, choral club, girls' chorus, basketball, and tennis teams. She was voted Dependable in the Hall of Fame, Girl of the Year for FHA, a Senior Scholastic, and on the UIL District Spelling Team. In 1959, she graduated from Abilene Christian College with a Bachelors in Business Administration. There, she was in the Alpha Chi Honor Organization, a "W" Club member, in Gamma Epsilon Society for business majors, the East Texas Club, and on the Zellner Dorm Council. In later years, she achieved a Masters of Education from Sam Houston State University.
Glenda's greatest joys were her faith and her family. An avid Bible reader and inquisitive student of the Word, she was a devoted servant at the Livingston Church of Christ, involved in Ladies Bible Class and the visitation program, teaching cradle roll and a teen girls' class. Glenda loved to visit, cook for, and give other members rides to church. She was a gifted singer and musician. In fact, for many years on New Years Eve, her family used to invite the entire congregation to their home to sing in the new year with praises to the Lord! When they were together, her family of origin and her two daughters loved to sing gospel songs for hours. She was always whistling, singing, or playing the piano. Music was her gift!
In addition to studying and praising her God, Glenda loved to be with her family. She married J.E. Braziel in 1960, and they raised three children, Julianne, Janalisa, and Jeremy. Her favorite times with her children and grandchildren involved rocking babies to sleep, eating her yummy meals, playing games inside, watching Disney movies, or being outside raking leaves, chopping down trees, building bonfires, and roasting hot dogs. She was well-known for her delicious chocolate sheet cake and chocolate chip cookies she often hid until everyone arrived! She also was not afraid of killing the resident snake who dared to enter the yard.
God called Glenda to teach in 1965. She retired in 2000 after thirty-five years with Shepherd and Livingston school districts. She taught English, typing, general business, accounting, shorthand, and business law. Many a student was coached and supported by her at UIL district, region, and all-state competitions. She was a strict disciplinarian, but she loved her students and enjoyed watching them succeed.
In 2003, she married the love of her life, Glenn "Buck" Pace. Together, they enjoyed retirement, traveling all over the United States to national parks and visiting family. They made wonderful friends along the way and became even more actively involved in their church and supported charities worldwide.
Glenda is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Lyric Collins, Jr., Bobby, and Jack Hounsel. She is survived by her loving husband of 18-1/2 years, Buck, as well as her three children and three step-children: Julianne Braziel Richardson, and husband, Danny, of Cleburne, TX, and their children, Janaye, Jenna, Jessie and husband John Finnell, and Daniel; Janalisa Braziel Soltis, and husband Lee "Sonny" Soltis of College Station, TX, and their children, Collin, Janson and wife, Allie, Brianna, and Grayson Soltis; Jeremy Braziel of Clark, CO, and his children, Josh and Tanner Braziel; Wes and wife Judy Pace of Kountze, TX, Eula Pace Fincher and husband Jerry of Tennessee, Lisa Pace Ferguson and husband, John, of Kountze, TX, and their children and grandchildren. She also has two surviving sisters-in-law, Laverne Hounsel and Janis Hounsel, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Livingston Church of Christ or Kindred Hospice. Glenda's family would like to especially thank the church members who gave her rides to church on Sundays and the beautiful souls at Pine Ridge Healthcare and Kindred Hospice for their abundant kindness these past two years. Mom's life was truly blessed by her God, family, and friends!
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