Annette Gentry Stevens, age 91, passed from this world to Heaven on January 6, 2013, at Hospice Brazos Valley Inpatient Facility surrounded by family. Keeping true to her lifelong spunky spirit, she fought her illness to the end and never gave up, surprising her doctors and nurses with her fortitude and tenacity. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. Annette's pastor, Reverend Sam Cutrone of Wesley United Methodist Church, will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 9, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in Rest-Ever Cemetery in north Bryan. Annette was born on February 25, 1921, in the Pankey, Texas, community to Andrew and Vernila Gentry. She moved to Bryan when she was a teenager when life on the farm became impossible for the young family after her father's untimely death. She always said that living in Grimes County near her older sister's family were some of the happiest days of her life. For decades, Annette was an active community volunteer. She served as PTA member and officer at her children's schools. She was a Brownie troop leader, Boy Scout den mother, Little League team mother, school room mother, 4H leader, school event worker and chaperone, March of Dimes and Head Start volunteer. Basically, anytime one of the Bryan schools needed anything, she volunteered. She and her dear friend, Beatrice Link, planted the lovely live oak trees in front of the original Bonham Elementary School before it opened in 1961. She and Bea would also sponsor a haunted house for the neighborhood trick or treaters to enjoy each year, alternating locations between their homes. Annette served on the Bryan Parks and Recreation Board and was instrumental in bringing Bonham Park to north Bryan. She was a volunteer federal census taker decades ago. She was an election clerk for Brazos County elections. For many years, she was a stay at home mom, but baby sat many children over the years for her working friends. She was also a talented seamstress and made her daughters' clothes and twirling uniforms. Later, she went to work in the Bryan School District's food service program with some of her friends. She enjoyed being at school with two of her grandsons and the other children. It was not unusual for children from all segments of the community to call her Nanny and run to hug her when she was out shopping. She especially enjoyed her time at Carver Kemp Elementary and being Nanny to the children there. One activity she was very proud of was the many years she volunteered for the community clothes closet. She and other volunteers purchased clothes for needy children. Based upon input from classroom teachers, Annette would discreetly pick up needy children from school, take them to the clothes closet and outfit them with a new wardrobe, take them back to school and deliver the clothing to the children's homes. No one ever knew where the children had been to not cause them any embarrassment. Annette loved animals, always had numerous pets and was supportive of the local animal shelter. No animal that wandered up to her house ever left because she immediately adopted and loved them. She made sure the wild birds always had plenty of seed and fresh water in her yard, which she kept immaculate. She loved to putter in her flower beds and rake leaves. She was an avid reader and took her kids on weekly trips to the Carnegie Library where she encouraged them to check out the maximum number of books allowed. Having been a World War II wife, she was extremely patriotic and supportive of our military. She was a long time member of Wesley United Methodist Church in north Bryan. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Zelma Andrus, brothers Herschel Gentry and Jeeter Gentry, her husband of many years R.P. Stevens, Sr., and two of her beloved grandsons, Ronnie Stevens and Gary Stevens. She is survived by her sons and daughters in law, R.P. Stevens, Jr., and Susan of Hearne, and David Stevens and Sheri of Navasota; her daughters and sons in law, Carol Huskey and Johnny of Groesbeck, and Mary Lynne Stratta and Joe John of Bryan; her sister Ivaree Woughter of Lawrenceville, PA; four grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Memorials may be made to the Bryan Animal Center, PO Box 1000, Bryan, Texas 77805 or Wesley United Methodist Church, 4201 North Texas Avenue, Bryan, Texas 77803 or Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803. The family thanks the staffs of The Manor, Hudson Creek and Hospice Brazos Valley for the compassionate care shown to our Mama and Nanny. A special thanks to son in law Joe John for his devotion and daily visits to her the past 15 months.