Brenda K. Fontenot

Brenda Karon Fontenot was born on March 27, 1940, in Texarkana, Texas, to Morris Davis and Mildred Hay Davis Moser.  On February 7, 1959, she married her high school sweetheart, Charles James (C.J.) Fontenot in Winnie, Texas. There, Brenda and C.J. had been married for sixty-four years and had five children, Chuck, Ronnie, Claudelle, Karon, and Lucy.  Brenda passed away on May 22, 2023, after a brief illness with her ever-faithful husband, C.J. by her side.  Together, they were the epitome of the commitment and love that marriage symbolizes, they were one.  Though times were not always easy, the foundation of their commitment to one another was absolute. Through sickness and in health, they stood by one another. Their parting words were expressions of their love, and it is fitting that Brenda waited to close her eyes and depart this world until she knew C.J. was by her side.

Brenda’s career was born of necessity, C.J. could weld two needle points together, and thus they took over the family industrial construction business, Fontenot Construction.  Many a man would find themselves working for Brenda and C.J., every one of them, respected and looked up to Brenda, she was witty, charming, and wrote the checks after all.  Coinciding with Fontenot Construction, C.J. opened up Fontenot Saddlery.  There she would exercise her already skilled hands in sewing, into an artform.  She would construct lavish purses, belts, straps, and chaps, but her ability to sew didn’t stop there.  She was the family seamstress as well.  She mended our dresses, shirts, and blue jeans, and on any given day she was particularly skilled at mending our hearts and dreams.

Above all other things, she was a mother.  She devoted herself to her family and to her faith.  She was unwavering in the raising and support of her five children, her eleven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.   When we were at our best, on stage, on the baseball field, on the football field, having our first communion, playing our instruments, at a dance recital, in college, getting married, starting a career, she was right there, in-person, cheering us on.  When we suffered, she was a shoulder to lean on and even cry on. She was gentle yet solid as a rock, spite her own battles with illness throughout the years.

Some of the furrier examples of her care giving were sitting in her lap or right outside in the pasture.  Her cattle, chickens, donkeys, and horses absolutely adored her.  She used to say, “there won’t be any skinny animals on Fontenot property.” The family dogs knew how true that was.  It would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the passion and love for her and C.J.’s dogs throughout the years, in particular Bugs, Sugar, Skipper, and Curly when speaking about her kindness and devotion to animals.  To her and C.J. they had their place among family.  Years ago, Brenda once fell and broke her leg in several places attempting to save a puppy from being hit by a car. Perhaps no incident in her life illustrated her character more, though it was transparent to all who knew and loved her.

It’s hard to nail down a specific hobby that she wasn’t expert level at.  During her 83 years, Brenda developed several varied talents.  She loved jigsaw puzzles, completing hundreds during her lifetime, many of which consisted of thousands of pieces. With a widespread reputation as a hunter in her own right, she frequently accompanied C.J. on hunting excursions throughout the state, putting meat on the table with a gunmanship rivaling most men of her age and experience. As witty and as humorous as they come, she stood toe-to-toe with anyone as a conversationalist, demonstrating an exceptionally well-read intellect and a fervor for knowledge and truth she passed on to her children and grandchildren, often in the form of books. It was hard to leave her house without a good book recommendation, and often enough, she would gift a copy of the book itself (or two, or three). An accomplished pianist, Brenda played for as long as her hands would allow. Holidays of Fontenot family past were often filled with the sound of her talent as the family gathered in the back room to hear her play, with the smell of her famous pumpkin bread in the air, and the sight of her red jalapeno Christmas lights glinting in the background.

Brenda, alongside C.J., was a devout Catholic.  She had a deep faith and relationship with her Savior, with whom she is now learning more about this universe and heaven than any of us could fathom.  During her last illness, we watched Brenda talk to Jesus. She whispered to him that she could not see her own mother in the dimness, and she sang to Him as she suffered. Like Paul and Silas, with their feet in the stocks, she sang to Christ in her suffering – a demonstration of genuine and unwavering faith. We thank God for her, for her love, for her wisdom, for her strength, for her mighty faith, and for the knowledge that she is now yet again singing to Jesus, and that she sees through the glass now not dimly, but perfectly.

She was the most wonderful human being, and the absolute best Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother that we could ask for.  We will always love and miss you so much. Following your example, we thank the Lord for you in your absence, in our suffering, and in remembrance of your faith.

She is survived by her husband Charles James (C.J.) Fontenot; son, Charles James (Chuck) Fontenot Jr. and his wife, Colleen Fontenot; son, Ronald Fontenot and his wife, Martha Fontenot; daughter, Claudelle Anderle; daughter, Karon McGaha and her husband, Deacon Steve McGaha; daughter, Lucia Floyd; grandchildren, Amber Maldonado, Brook Morgan, Derek Bettis, Lindsey Fontenot, Charles (Adam) Floyd, John Teague, Chase Walker, Matthew Teague, Emily Winder, Katie Floyd, and Tyler Walker; and her fifteen great-grandchildren.

Brenda Karon Fontenot was preceded in death by her father, Morris Davis; mother, Mildred Hay Davis Moser; son-in-law, Mark Anderle; and son-in-law, Milton Floyd.

A gathering of Mrs. Fontenot’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer, Winnie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2023, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 315 West Buccaneer, Winnie. Her interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Louis Catholic Church, 315 West Buccaneeer, Winnie.