Nellie Jane Thompson Rockenbaugh, age 82, passed into eternal rest on October 30, 2017.

The youngest of nine children, she was born December 22, 1934, near Orange Grove, Jim Wells County, Texas to the late Richard Nelson Thompson and Margaret Elizabeth Ann Daniel Thompson.

The family moved to the Palacios area in 1936. She joined the Methodist Church in 1945 and continued her faithful membership there, serving as Sunday school. Superintendent and teacher, assistant finance secretary, chairman and secretary of the Administrative Council, chairman of the 75th Church Anniversary committee and various other committees throughout the years. Nellie was very active in both FHA and 4-H clubs and along with man y blue ribbons, she was awarded the county 4-H Gold Star Award in 1949, the County 4-H Citizenship Award and State Fair Honor Award. She was Salutatorian of Palacios High School Class of 1954 and attended the University of Texas. She was a homemaker, secretary and bookkeeper and a member of the Athena Club, serving in various offices of the club.

She married John King Rockenbaugh, Jr. on June 29, 1957, in the First United Methodist Church in Palacios and continued their married life near Palacios until his death in 1998 and Nellie continued to live there until her death.

Nellie is survived by two daughters, Janet Nell Rockenbaugh of Galveston, TX and Cathy Ann Rockenbaugh McCauley and her husband Robert McCauley, Jr. of Gonzales, TX; two granddaughters, Tiffany Lynn McCauley Absher and husband Brandon of Yoakum and Chelsea Nicole McCauley of Gonzales, TX; one great grandson Bryson Michael Absher; numerous nieces and nephews including Kenneth Hamlin of Palacios and one brother-in-law Sonny Rogers of Hobbs, NM.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, wonderful in-laws John & Bessie Rockenbaugh and Elizabeth Jacob and all of her siblings, five brothers Russell, Gilford, Fulton "Pud", O. B. and Nelson Thompson and three sisters Hazel Wostal Hominick, Dorothy Hamlin and Dora Ann Rogers.

Visitation will be 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at the Palacios Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Palacios with Rev. David King officiating. Burial will follow at the Palacios Cemetery. Pallbearers are Brandon Absher, Philip Hamlin, Allen Adams, Erwin Janszen, Bill Miller and Chris Vandenbergh. Honorary pallbearers are Kenneth Hamlin and Robert McCauley, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the First United Methodist Church of Palacios or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.taylorbros.net. Arrangements are with Palacios Funeral Home 361-972-2012.