Brigitte Eileen KELLY

1947 - 2015

KELLY, Brigitte Eileen
Brigitte Kelly passed away on September 23, 2013 after fighting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma valiantly for several years. She was surrounded by her beloved family.

Brigitte grew up in Nebraska and Indiana, graduating from Washington High School of South Bend Indiana. She was very active in her local 4H. She received her BA from the University of Maryland in Communications in 1973. Returning to school after raising her children, she earned her MBA from the Red McComb Business School at the University of Texas in Austin in 1992.

Brigitte worked in the optometry field for many years before becoming the Director of Operations at the Texas Optimetric Association, TOA. She taught several classes in the business aspect of optometry at the Universtiy of Houston Optometry School, mentoring the newest graduates in the field.

Brigitte raised a guide dog puppy, Specs, for the South East Guide Dog Society, and rescued numerous shelter dogs. She will be missed by her darling Buck and Dandi.

An artist, Brigitte constantly created - costumes for her children and grandchildren, knitting and crocheting, designing arrangements for weddings and conferences. After studying at the Bishop Museum of Oahu Hawaii, she began her extensive work in feather leis, branching out into specialty hatbands in lace, jewels and feathers.

Brigitte is survived by her beloved husband, Richard Matteson of Austin, siblings Pat Kelly of Tampa, FL, Kathleen Jorgensen of LA, CA, and Edward Kelly of Joplin, MO, her children Dona and Jerome LeBlanc of Austin and Wyatt Fradenburg of Pensacola, FL, and her Angels, the grandchildren, Treva Tabios of LA, CA, Michael Fradenburg of Pflugerville, TX, and Matthew, Rebecca, David, and Joshua LeBlanc of Austin, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Myers and by her parents, Ed and Ruth Kelly of South Bend IN.

Her ashes will be interred at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution can be made to South East Guide Dog Society of Bradenton, Florida or Girls Haven at 3380 Fannin St. Beaumont Texas, 77701

A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 5:00 pm at Cook Walden Funeral Home on North Lamar Blvd.