Kathryn B. Rockwell

Kathryn Brasher Rockwell, 100, a special lady filled with love, generosity, and humor, went home to be with her Lord on Sunday evening, November 4, 2012.
A Memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 10th at University Church of Christ with Dr. Gary McCaleb of Abilene Christian University presiding under the direction of Piersall Benton Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St. Burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Port Arthur, Texas.


Kathryn lived a full, productive Christian life and her loving kindness and nurturing sweetness will be missed by many. She was born November 29, 19ll, in Hamilton County, Texas, to George Leonard and Mary Armenta Brasher. Her early years were spent in Gatesville, Texas. She attended 3rd grade through high school in Clovis, New Mexico, and graduated from nursing school at St. Anthony’s in Amarillo, Texas. While in Amarillo she met and married Jacob Harris Rockwell on November 29, 1934. After living in Amarillo for four years, they moved to Port Arthur, Texas in 1938. The couple lived in Port Arthur, Texas where they owned and operated a sporting goods store until Jake’s death on October 27, 1957. They were members of the Proctor Street Church of Christ. Kathryn moved with her two children, Rochelle and Walter to Abilene in 1958 where they were members of University Church of Christ.

Kathryn owned and lived in two homes on the hill before moving to the Christian Village in June, 1986. Prior to moving to the Village, Kathryn had over 90 members of Abilene Christian University’s Galaxy Men’s Social Club live with her from 1963 until 1986 renaming her home “The Rock House.” The recreation room at Christian Village was refurbished, renovated and renamed The Kathryn Rockwell Recreation Center in her honor on October, 20, 2012 from donations given by some of the young men that lived at the Rock House. Her home on E.N. 14th was bought in 1986 by former Galaxy members and is still a part of the Galaxy tradition.

Kathryn was an avid ACU sports fan and particularly loved men’s baseball where her son, Walter, and her grandson, Keith Rockwell, played for the ACU wildcats. She regularly attended the ACU girls’ basketball and volleyball games until a few years ago. She was also an eager, competitive game player willing to play any game any time, but preferred 42 and 88. She was an accomplished crocheter and quilter. Most of the activities she loved took place in the Christian Village Recreation Center now named after her. She was also an adventurous traveler in the United States and abroad visiting five of the seven continents.

She is survived by one daughter, Dr. Rochelle Owens of Porter, and one son, Walter Rockwell and his wife Vicki of Missouri City; five grandchildren, Cheryl Anne Dunham and her husband Richard of Kingwood, James Ryan Owens of Dallas, Brian Beeman Rockwell of Denver, Colo., Leanne Kathryn Taylor and her husband Ronald of Sugar Land, and Keith Wilson Rockwell and his wife Allison of Pearland; and by seven great-grandchildren, Caitlin King, Stephanie, Gunnar and Roxanne Owens, Eden and James Rockwell and Sarah Taylor. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jacob Harris Rockwell, her brother, James S. Brasher, and two sisters, Nell L. Sween and Mozelle Cozart.
Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons, James Owens, Brian Rockwell, Keith Rockwell and grandsons-in-law Richard Dunham and Ronald Taylor.

The family would like to give special thanks to the many devoted friends who watched over her at the Christian Village, in particular, Wanda Douglas, Connie Pace, Linda Mitchell, Margie Leverett, Mabel Bailey, Jerry Hays and Berta Cornelius. Our thanks also go to Sylvia and Dr. Gary McCaleb for their unwavering love, care and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Christian Village Inc., 633 E.N. 19th, Abilene, 79601; Christian Service Center, 901 Mesquite, Abilene, 79601; or Christian Homes of Abilene, P.O.Box 270, Abilene, 79604.