Exa Dana Harvill Fountain
Exa Dana Harvill Fountain, 96, passed away peacefully at her home in Bon Wier, Texas, Tuesday, September 17, 2024. She was born August 2, 1928, in Nederland, Texas, to Lewis Marion Harvill and Lola Ota Defee Harvill.
She grew up in Nederland, Texas with her six sisters and two brothers. Exa was working at Gardener’s Grocery on Boston Avenue when her co-worker, Temp, introduced her to her brother, William “Bill” Sam Fountain. Sam and Exa were married July 27, 1945. Together, they raised two sons, Jerry and Robert, in Nederland. In 1962, they bought a camp house in Sabine Sands, along the Sabine River in Bon Wier, Texas. They eventually made it their permanent residence after Sam retired from Mobil in 1977, but kept their home in Nederland where she made frequent trips to spend time with her siblings and her mother.
Exa was lovingly known as Momma, Granny, Great-Granny, and Aunt Exa. She was a true lady, but she also had many skills and was not afraid to get her hands dirty. She could skin and clean a hog, wring a chicken’s neck, dress a squirrel, or really anything that Sam and the kids brought her, but she could also cut and style your hair, teach the grandkids to shell peas or cook you the best meal you ever had.
Granny loved spending time with her siblings and enjoyed getting together at her or one of her sister’s homes to play cards and visit with them and her nieces and nephews or going on adventures with them. She also enjoyed spending time with her friends in Sabine Sands and their trips across the river. Exa and Sam made an annual trip, every Labor Day, camping for weeks, to spend time with Sam’s siblings and clean up the family cemetery, Spring Ridge. More than anything, she loved being Granny and loved cooking for her grandkids.
Exa is survived by her sons, Jerry Wayne Fountain and wife, Ronni, of Fannett, and Robert Roy Fountain and wife, Kay, of Bon Wier; sisters, Shirley Chandler, Patricia “Pat” Smith, Wanda Colville, Joyce Poss and husband, James, and Sue Bass; and grandchildren, Jason Fountain and wife, Jessie; Kristi Young and husband, Steve; Mysti Loukas; Joey Fountain and Kara; Janna Keever; and James Fountain and wife, Kathleen; great-grandchildren, Kelsey Young; Victoria and Cameron Van Dusen; Blake Fountain and Reece; Dylan Young and Macy; Andrew Fountain and Abbey; Jackson, Jantzen, Jed, and Jewel Fountain; Kaylee Poe Keever; Kash Fountain; Jacob Morton, Alexis, Adyn, Adyson, and Asher Todd; Gabrielle Loukas; Isabella Wilson; Elijah Ruiz and Kaleb; Jace and Keldon Barton; great-great grandchildren, Aila, Vera, and Eliza Van Dusen; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Lola Harvill; husband of sixty-five years, William “Sam” Fountain; sister, Jane Brackin; brothers, Joe Harvill and Jimmy Harvill; and grandson, Brannon Loukas.
A gathering of Mrs. Fountain’s family and friends will be 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her graveside service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Spring Ridge Cemetery, San Augustine.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mrs. Fountain’s honor may be made to Spring Ridge Cemetery, 8183 County Road 229, Center, Texas 75935.
Video
Gathering of Family and Friends
Broussard’s Mortuary Nederland
- 505, North 12th Street, Nederland, Texas, 77627,
- September 21, 2024
- 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Graveside Service
Spring Ridge Cemetery
- San Augustine, Texas, 75972,
- September 22, 2024
- 2:00 pm
I am so sorry for missing the passing of Exa Dana, she was one special lady! I just happened to be going through the Broussard’s obituaries when I discovered her obituary. Again I am so sorry for not being there with flowers!!
There was only one Sweet Aunt Exa,
How I love her so much. When I started school, she would walk down to our house and pin curl my hair every Sunday thru Thursday night. I would then walk to her house in the mornings, and she would fix my hair before I went to school. She did this until I finished 2nd grade. I was for sure styling with the hair. I thought of her as my 2nd momma. She made me feel like a I was very special, and we had a bond like no other. When Larry and I got married (
3 days after I graduated high school) she was so worried that he would not finish college. Well, Larry did, and we moved to Houston and begin our life. Aunt Exa was special to so many people and I am sure she made an impression on them as well. Sweet memories of shelling peas on the breeze way, and other things with her. She was an amazing lady!
Aunt Exa, Love you 4ever!
Susan Gail
Wanda and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss.
I know all of you have precious memories to cherish for years to come. One thing for sure Exa is with our Savior and all of her loved ones. What a time they must be having.
May God’s peace be with you and your family.
Love,
Diana Lindsay
There are so many things I’ll remember about Granny.
A lady with strength and an admirable work ethic.
Grandpa wasn’t the only gardener; she worked in the garden right beside him.
Her sense of humor.
I’m sure I’m not the only one still looking out for that wampus cat!
Her kitchen was always open.
All you had to say was, “Granny, will you make me….”
I fondly remember homemade ice cream and the freshest blackberry cobbler;
Cornbread with their special cornmeal blend;
Creamed potatoes were a staple at every meal;
The perfect banana bread;
Granny rarely used recipes. If I asked her for one, she’d say, “I’ll make it and you can write it down.”
When I think of Granny, I think of cozy slippers on a cold floor.
The way she would pat her lap, to get me to come sit on her knee. Well after I was grown.
A tight hug; the squeeze of her hand.
She will be missed, she will be remembered.
I loved hearing her tell the story of the Wampus Cat. Well, actually any story. And how she always had strawberry milk, too, because James did not like chocolate, even when he was grown. I remember one time, one of the kids wanted a chocolate cake for their birthday. I think she was a bit offended that I got them a chocolate cake because James did not like chocolate. I never made that mistake again. Her cooking was just splendid and I learned to love so many more foods after meeting her. James would always tell me, “Don’t say you do not like something until you have tried Granny’s” You are so right about gardening. I believe she took more steps than Grandpa because she also made sure he was taken care of while he was gardening. There was literally nothing that she could not or would not do. I wish there was enough room to accurately describe who she was, how she lived her life and all of her amazing stories.
she was a beautiful soul. She will be missed but not forgotten.