Roll Call Tribute

Published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle from November 18 to November 19, 2011

Nell (Willis) Page
December 25, 1932 - November 11, 2011

Nell Page, 78, of Bryan, passed away Friday, November 11, 2011. A memorial service is set for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 20 at A&M United Methodist Church.

Ruby Nell Willis was born December 25, 1932, to William Alva and Ruby Adaline Whitefield Willis in Terry County, TX. She married Wesley Foy Page on August 25, 1951, in Seagraves, Texas. Nell graduated from Texas Tech University at the age of 19 with a BS in Nutrition and Institutional Management; earned a Masters degree in Education with a minor in Sociology from Texas A&M University in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (with a 4.0 GPR) from Texas A&M in May 1973. Nell taught elementary and junior high school in Medina, Marble Falls, Johnson City and Bryan, and courses in psychology and education at Texas A&M University.

She was an editor and Assistant Department Head in the Department of Agricultural Communications where she held a joint appointment as Professor with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. She supervised numerous Extension Graduate Assistants, minority interns and student workers. Dr. Page taught more than 60 training programs for Extension staff throughout the state. She retired in 1993 as a professor emeritus. While completing her doctoral degree, she held a graduate research and teaching fellowship. She was a member and president of the Texas A&M Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, Kappa Delta Pi honor society in education, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Kappa Delta Phi, IABC, Brazos Valley Museum Board of Directors, and Who's Who of American Women. She chaired the publicity committee for the Brazos County Youth Livestock Show.

Dr. Page was a certified dietitian, school counselor, educational diagnostician and language/learning disabilities specialist. She held membership in the Council of Exceptional Children, American Association of University Women, the TAEX Specialists' Association and ACE (Association of Agricultural Communications). Nell was a docent at the George Bush Presidential Library where she had more than 2,500 hours of volunteer service, a Crestview Volunteer, a member of the Brazos Valley Friends of the Library, and a competitive duplicate bridge player. She was a member of the Texas Research Ramblers Genealogy Society, the Brazos Valley Republican Women and the Bushwalkers Chapter of the American Volkswalkers Association.

Nell was a lifelong Methodist, having been a descendent from the Whitefield family of George Whitefield, who along with John Wesley began Methodism in the 1700s. Since her retirement, she was active in United Methodist Women, serving numerous offices on the local and district level. She was an usher, a member of the Altar Guild, and a member of the Golden Rule Sunday School Class at A&M United Methodist Church.

Dr. Page was honored with many awards and recognitions throughout her professional career. She was
especially proud of her FFA Honorary Lone Star Award, her TAEX Superior Service Award, many ACE awards, the Distinguished Service Award from the Deputy Chancellor of Agriculture in 1993, and several service awards through the United Methodist Women. She was a nominee for the Outstanding Woman Award in 1984. She competed in the Walk Across Texas program three years and her team won all three years. The teams in 2004 and 2005 were captained by Nell.

Nell will be remembered for her dedication, love, loyalty and service to her family, her faith, her fellow man and her profession, and especially for her sense of humor and her commitment to fun. Nell never met a stranger and was a friend of many. She remained a "teacher" throughout her life always looking for a "teachable" moment for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nell was preceded in death by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law Mary Guinn Willis and Elmer Ray Sellers, and her sister-in-law Lois Collins Willis.

Nell is survived by her beloved husband Wesley Foy Page; daughter and son-in-law, Deborah Denise
Blackford; sons and daughters-in-law: Timothy Guinn and Cheryl Page, Kevin Craig and Wendy Page and Christopher Nathan (Kit) and Terri Page. Robert Vinson and Cindy Faulkner also survive as children of her heart. She is survived by 16 grandchildren: Jason Vinson Faulkner, Justin Kyle Farrell, Holly Noelle Carter, Joshua Burnett Faulkner, Sunni Beatrice Page, Misty Laine Carter, Seth Wesley Page, Jenna Rene Schatte-Page Leopold and Mitchel, Christopher John (CJ) Page, Kelsey Caitlin Page Steadman and Ethan, Garrett Lane Schatte-Page, Hallie Kathryn Page, Kelli Anne Page, Kolton Cash Page, Rebekah Renee Page, Kameron Chase Page. She also is survived by nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers William Thomas Willis and David Frank Willis, three nieces and six nephews.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Nell's name to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803 or A&M United Methodist Church, 417 University Drive, College Station, TX 77840.

Please view her Book of Memories™ at CallawayJones.com