Nancy Carolyn Hopkins Reily

Memorial services for Nancy Carolyn Hopkins Reily, 91, of West Lake Hills will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Elwyn M. Gipson Memorial Chapel in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park with Reverend Cindy Doran officiating. A private burial will be held in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Nancy was born in Dallas, Texas on August 7, 1934 to loving parents, Anna Pauline Richardson Hopkins and Robert Howell “Hal” Hopkins, Sr., and entered eternal rest on July 16, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Growing up with two brothers, instead of playing with dolls, Nancy found more enjoyment in playing football and baseball in the neighborhood, climbing trees, and catching fireflies at night. Her favorite memories as a child were spending summers from ages nine to nineteen at her Aunt Helen and Uncle Winfield Morten’s ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. She rode her quarter horse, swam in the Chama River, and participated with cow herding in the local rodeos.

Nancy attended Highland Park High School, graduating in 1951 and carried her earlier interest in athletic activities to Gulf Park College in Gulf Port, Mississippi for one year where she lettered in volleyball. Nancy transferred to Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1953 and continued her interest in sports where she was named SMU Intramural All-Star Field Hockey Goalie. She was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and later elected Chapter President and was also a Rotunda yearbook beauty nominee. Nancy received her BBA degree in Retail Merchandising.

Nancy met the love of her life, Donald Earle Reily, on a blind date while both were students at SMU. They were married in the Highland Park Presbyterian Church Chapel on April 15, 1955 while Don was on a fourteen day leave from the U.S. Army basic training. In order for Nancy to go with Don after the ceremony, she persuaded her professors to let her take her exams six weeks early. Don completed his military service in Pacific Grove, California and Baltimore, Maryland and they returned to Dallas before eventually making their home in East Texas. Nancy and Don would spend the remainder of their days together among the beautiful Piney Woods and were married 66 years. They had two children, Mark Hopkins Reily and Donna Carolyn Reily (Davis). Nancy was a loving and devoted mother offering unwavering love, encouragement, and support throughout every season of life.

The family then moved from Don’s hometown of Corrigan to Lufkin. Nancy became active in the Lufkin Service League, a dedicated member of First United Methodist Church, and participated in many volunteer activities. It was during this time that Nancy helped with the developments that ultimately led to the opening of the Museum of East Texas. In 1974, Nancy was recognized as a founding member of the museum and received “The Award for Meritorious Service” by the City of Lufkin.

Nancy had many passions in her adult life and one of her first was photography, leading Nancy to embark upon a creative career as an outdoor photographic portraitist. She persuaded Don to build a dark room in their garage where her keen eye for detail and creative spirit flourished as she mastered the art of developing her own photographs. She taught a portrait workshop at Angelina College in Lufkin and also had a one-woman show at the college in 1980. A highlight of her photography career was being invited to participate in a workshop to study under Ansel Adams in Carmel, California.

Nancy then turned her creative interests towards writing which led to the researching, writing, and publishing of numerous books. Included in her catalog of published works are biographies of the artist friends of her aunt and uncle that she met as a child in New Mexico, Joseph Imhof and Georgia O’Keeffe. She always treasured those memories and later became the recognized authority on the life of Joseph Imhof.

As much as Nancy enjoyed the writing process, her research skills were second to none, and she assumed her role as the family historian. Way before the days of Ancestry.com, Nancy did extensive research on both the Hopkins and Reily family lines. Through this genealogy work she established ties for membership in the National Society Magna Carta Dames and Barons, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century.

In her later years, she was an active and proud member of the Board of Directors of the Citizens State Financial Corporation in Corrigan, Texas.

Athlete, sorority leader, community volunteer, photographer, published author, genealogist, and the most gracious hostess …Nancy enjoyed such a wide variety of things in her lifetime, but what she will be most known for is her role as wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, and friend. Nancy dearly loved her family with her care and support of them knowing no bounds. She was always ready to help her loved ones, even sometimes when it was unsolicited! And to her friends she was always interested in what they were doing and ready to lend a listening ear and share a laugh.

In the last years of her life as a resident of the Belmont Village Community in Austin, she became well known among the residents and staff as someone who was available to help anyone wanting to get started with their own writing project. She encouraged many in finding their voice to tell their story. One of her favorite sayings was “Everyone Has a Story” and she delighted in those stories being shared.

She was as positive a person as you could ever find and exuded kindness to everyone she came in contact with until her very last day.

She is preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Archie Castleberry; her husband; brothers, Robert Howell Hopkins, Jr., Edward Morten Hopkins; sister-in-law, Joanne Schneider Hopkins; and brothers-in-law, Michael Gordon Reily, Sr. and Rayford Holley Reily.

She is survived by her son, Mark and wife Jane Read Reily, along with their children Read Hopkins Reily and his wife Ashton, Thomas Donald Reily, John Mark Reily and Anna Reily Jones and husband Michael, all of Dallas. She is also survived by her daughter, Donna of Austin and her two children Carolyn Davis Cross and husband Colin of Dallas and Julia Davis Prickett and husband Christopher of Corpus Christi. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Jane Reynolds Hopkins, Jean Dudley Reily, and Martha Reily Wilson.

She is proudly survived by eight great-grandchildren, Sanders Tyler Cross, Reily Carolyn Cross, Davis Garrett Cross, Conner Hopkins Cross, Nancy Lane Prickett, Christopher Archer Prickett, John Taylor Jones and Lauren Rose Reily and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Read Reily, Thomas Reily, John Mark Reily, Colin Cross, Christopher Prickett, Michael Jones, Harry Stafford, and Anthony Page.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Museum of East Texas, 503 N. Second Street, Lufkin, Texas 75901.

The family would also like to thank the loving staff at Belmont Village Senior Living, especially Flo Wade, and in addition Estefania Tadeo and Lisa Castillo of Austin, as well as the devoted care from Versia Sanders and Laura Hernandez of Lufkin.

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

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.