Constance Key Newlin

Constance "Nonnie" Key Newlin

Oct 30, 1933 - May 20, 2025

Constance "Connie" Key Newlin (née Horine), lovingly known as "Nonnie" to her grandson and eventually to nearly everyone, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2025, in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, after a long struggle with dementia.

Born in Corpus Christi, Connie spent her formative years in the small South Texas towns of Robstown, Sinton, and Alice. She graduated from Alice High School and went on to study nursing at the Lily Jolly School of Nursing in Houston, where she became a registered nurse.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Connie became a resourceful, self-reliant, and clever young woman. She was both a daddy's girl and a mommy's girl-just as comfortable fishing, hunting, and camping with her father as she was cooking, sewing, and helping raise her siblings alongside her mother.

After earning her RN license, she stayed in Houston, embracing city life and cultivating her love of the arts, museums, and especially the theater. She married Bobby Jean Newlin, they had two children whom she adored: Christopher and Kimberly. Connie encouraged her children's love of reading, science, and the arts, and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, PTA, and in countless other community efforts.

When Christopher Gage made his appearance in her life, she went overboard with affection, driving her friends and relations crazy with the stories about what a perfect child her grandson was. She couldn't wait to take him fishing, like her father had taken her and she had taken her kids.

She was a longtime and enthusiastic member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church Foundation in Houston, where she formed lifelong friendships. She and several friends pioneered the church's first "Mother's Day Out" program, which would later grow into an accredited preschool.

Connie paused her nursing career to be a full-time mom, returning to the profession after her children were grown. After a divorce, she moved back to Corpus Christi and enjoyed a second wind with her parents, R.E. and Vivian Key Horine. She treasured her time with them and ultimately cared for them in their final years with the same loving devotion she had always shown her family.

She is survived by her son, Christopher Michael (Alice), and daughter, Kimberly Key (Alison), and by her beloved grandson, Christopher Gage Newlin. She also cherished her step-grandchildren, Henry Taylor (Dana) and Jeremy Taylor (Catherine), whom she deeply loved. Her sister, Margaret Yvonne Fields (Leston) of Brady, Texas, survives her, as does her sister-in-law Joyce "Booty" Newlin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, R.E. and Vivian Horine; her brothers Ralph Earnest Horine, Jr. (Irene) and Robert Horine.

Her warmth, wit, and unshakable good nature were legendary. Even through life's many challenges-including raising two spirited children and enduring a difficult marriage-Connie was known for her humor and grace. She rarely complained and gave of herself freely. Her love was deep and her generosity boundless. Her family once had to confiscate her credit card to prevent her from giving away her life savings to every charitable cause that tugged at her heart.

Nonnie was known for her laughter, sense of humor, and sarcasm - her kids and grandkids were all "brats," and she would often suggest that they "go play on the freeway." She loved live theater (especially musicals) as much as she loved watching "Bugs Bunny" cartoons or Monty Python with brats. Her dressing mirror frame was lined with ticket stubs to plays that she'd seen. She was a Royal watcher - a trip to Europe in her later years was a highlight of her life. The Kentucky Derby (watched from home in a big hat) was always a special occasion (and the Mint Juleps that went with it!)

She loved and cared for so many-at her core, she was a mother and a nurse. She poured her heart into raising her kids and grandkids. She loved nurturing the little ones in the "Mother's Day Out" program. Her niece and nephew (Matthew Fields and Amanda Fields Jensen) practically had their own after-school program for years at Nonnie and Vivian's house. And that's not even counting the hundreds of patients she compassionately cared for throughout her nursing career.

Her final years were marked by the slow progression of dementia, which gradually dimmed her once-bright spirit. Even as her memory faded, her love for her family and her deep compassion remained steady and unmistakable. A celebration of Connie's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church Foundation (Houston) in her memory.

The family would like to especially thank Alison and Kim for their tireless caregiving, which gave Nonnie comfort and dignity in her final years.

She will be deeply missed by all who had the joy of knowing her.