Emily Shelton Watts

Memorial services for Emily Shelton Watts, 52, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Lufkin's First Baptist Church with Dr. Andrew G. Pittman officiating. A private interment will precede in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Emily died unexpectedly Wednesday, January 30, 2013 in a Lufkin hospital.

Emily was born November 13, 1960 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated Lufkin High School in 1978 and went on to receive a B.A. in Communications from Baylor University in 1982. Several years after graduating, Emily returned to Lufkin to raise her family. At the time of her death, she was the Director of Business Development and Public Relations for Brookshire Brothers, where she served on both the Donations and Charitable Foundations Committees. She had been with Brookshire Brothers for 12 years.

Emily radiated the joy that came from knowing she was a child of God. Her faith, often in the midst of difficulty, fueled her unquenchable spirit and great compassion. When Emily walked in, she lit up a room, got the conversation flowing and the laughter rolling. Anyone who met Emily felt that Emily was their friend. Because of that genuine love for others, her circle of friends is expansive.

Music was her passion. No one could rock the rafters at First Baptist Church like Emily. She was active in many aspects of the music ministry starting with NOW Generation in the late 1970s to Eagle's Wings as an adult. Throughout her life, music was her mission field.

Like her parents, Emily gave her time and energy to many Angelina County organizations. A founding member of the Angelina Arts Alliance, she was in her second term as president. Currently, Emily also served on the boards of The Mosaic Center and the Museum of East Texas.

Emily's family has a legacy of supporting endeavors that benefit cancer research, education and treatment. She and her sister Becca championed the Dr. Bill Shelton Totally Awesome Fishing Adventure. That fundraiser provides financial assistance for persons undergoing cancer treatment at the Arthur Temple, Sr. Regional Cancer Center. The American Cancer Society's Cattle Baron's Ball also benefitted from her leadership.

Her involvement with the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce included leadership roles in the Texas State Forest Festival and its Hushpuppy Olympics, First Friday Luncheon Series, and Total Resource Campaign. A graduate of the Chamber's Leadership Lufkin Class, she received the Butch McMullen Silver Spike Award for outstanding civic leadership in 2006.

A past president of the Junior League of Lufkin, Emily also served on the boards of Angelina Beautiful/Clean, Boys & Girls Club of Deep East Texas, Hospice in the Pines and United Way. She also shared her time and talents with the American Heart Association, the LISD Tri-Ethnic Committee, Drug-Free Business Task Force and LHS Pride Providers.

Emily is survived by her fiancé, Darrell Brandon of Lufkin; son, Dr. George Jobling ""Chip"" Watts V of Boston, Massachusetts; daughter, Lindsey Caroline Watts of Denver, Colorado; sisters, Elizabeth Kathleen Shelton and Rebecca Caroline Shelton Chance and her husband Jeffrey S. Chance and their children, William Barrington Chance and Caroline Grace Chance, all of Lufkin; aunt and uncle, Claudia and John E. Parrish, their son Mark Everett Parrish, and his children Lukas Alexander Parrish and Kristina Helena Parrish, all of Lee's Summit, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. William B. and Emily Barbee Shelton.

Honorary pallbearers are Brad Brandon, Coot Brandon, William Chance, Darryl Day, Randy Deal, Kent King, John Parrish and Mark Parrish

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to one of the following places that Emily cared so much about: American Cancer Society, 212 Gene Samford Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904, Angelina Arts Alliance, P.O. Box 152634, Lufkin, Texas 75915, The Mosaic Center, P.O. Box 154225, Lufkin, Texas 75915, or Museum of East Texas, 502 N. Second Street, Lufkin, Texas 75901.

Emily's family will welcome friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening in the sanctuary of Lufkin's First Baptist Church.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.