- Date Of Birth: June 30, 1930
- Date Of Death: March 21, 2021
- State: Texas
Born June 30, 1930, on the family homestead in Lenz, Texas, a small town nestled amid mesquite trees and cactus in the shadow of San Antonio, Nonanel (“Nonie”) Crews Kendrick was the fifth child of nine children born to prominent rancher Stephen Edgar Crews II and Nona Seale Crews. She was raised and educated in nearby Karnes City, graduating from Karnes City High School in 1948.
Nonie married her high school sweetheart, Louis George (“Lug”) Kendrick, in 1950, after attending Baylor University. The young couple eventually returned to Karnes City, where they made their home and raised three daughters: Kathleen Kendrick Arnold (Jay), Karol Kendrick Arnold (Bobby), and Laurie Kendrick (proud mom of two fur babies, Bixby and Greer).
Nonie lived a life of service. Although she was born to a storied ranching family, she derived purpose from giving back to her community through her civic activities. Nonie was an active member in the First Methodist Church of Karnes City, where she sang in the choir for many years. She served in an administrative position in the Karnes City Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of various booster clubs, parent-teacher organizations, and a founding member and first president of the Young Progressives, a civic organization. She counted as her hobbies completing crossword puzzles, playing the piano, the game of bridge, keeping up with current events, and hostessing many parties for family and friends.
After many years of living in Karnes City, Nonie turned a page in her life by moving to Dallas, living there for more than a decade. She eventually retired to Boerne, Texas, where she continued her civic pursuits. During her time in Boerne, she was a mentor at Curington Elementary School, volunteered at the Boerne Chamber of Commerce, and relished her time as a very active member at the First Methodist Church. Her tenure in the choir at her beloved house of worship led to many regional choral recitals, culminating in a main stage performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City.
Through all this, Nonie found the time to write and publish a book of stories that her grandfather shared with her as a child. The People of Melviney, about a mythical small town in South Texas, has become a family treasure.
Nonie’s love of international travel took her to Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy, and England, where she paid respects to her ancestral vaults within the hallowed walls of Westminster Abbey, London.
