Sharon Dehnisch Neelley

Sharon Beth Dehnisch Neelley died Monday, January 5, 2026, in Houston, Texas, after a short illness.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 2 pm , at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan, Texas. Burial will take place at a later date in Wellborn, Texas.

Sharon was born on June 24, 1938, at Mathis Hospital in Mathis, Texas, to Frank Dehnisch, Sr. and Earleen “Neena” Hollon Dehnisch. She grew up in the South Texas Brush Country on a family farm established by her grandparents, Robert and Jamesina “Nanno” Dehnisch, in the 1920s. Life on the farm revolved around growing cotton, milo, and later onions, while also raising beef cattle, chickens, and a milk cow. Sharon and her brother, Frank Dehnisch, Jr., often reflected on a childhood shaped by the rhythms of farm life, watching the weather, worrying over crops, and always hoping for rain.

As a child, Sharon spent many happy hours playing with dolls alongside her older cousin, Annette Dehnisch. One of her most treasured memories came in 1944, when she was six years old. As a Christmas gift, her mother, Earleen, sewed exquisitely detailed doll clothes from fabric scraps, working late into the night on a treadle sewing machine by the light of a kerosene lamp. The tiny garments included delicate lace undergarments, a ball gown, and tailored suits with intricate button details. Years later, Sharon rediscovered these long-lost doll clothes in the family attic. She lovingly framed them to gift to her children and grandchildren as cherished family heirlooms.

The family traveled into town to attend First Baptist Church in Mathis, where they gathered for Sunday morning and evening services and for Wednesday night worship. Many Sundays after church were spent picnicking at the lake with extended family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, enjoying long, leisurely afternoons. While the women visited and the men napped, the children played freely. During these years, Sharon learned the enduring importance, strength, and comfort of family, all values she carried with her throughout her life.

In high school, Sharon was an excellent student and an active participant in school life. She served as a twirler for the Mathis High School Pirate band, was a member of the Bookworm Club and Future Homemakers of America, and held leadership roles as Treasurer of the Senior Class and a member of the school “The Galleon” yearbook staff. She was honored as both the “Class Favorite” and the “All-School Favorite” during her senior year. Social life revolved around music and dancing with friends at the Lake Mathis Clubhouse, affectionately known as “The Castle,” a stone building built by the WPA in the 1930s overlooking Lake Mathis. With music from a jukebox and food from the concession stand, it was a beloved gathering place for the town’s youth.

In the fall of 1956, Sharon entered the University of Texas at Austin. During her college years, she served on the President’s Advisory Committee, was an active member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, participated in the Panhellenic Council, and belonged to the Cap and Gown organization. She graduated in 1960 with a degree in business.

Although Sharon cherished her years as a Longhorn, after moving to Bryan–College Station in 1966, she proudly embraced life as an Aggie fan. Maroon and white became her favorite colors.

Sharon was a devoted mother of three sons, and during their childhood in Bryan-College Station, Sharon remained deeply involved in community and civic life. She was a founding member of the group that established the Theta Gamma Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha at Texas A&M University, an active member of the Woman’s Club of Bryan, and a member of the Junior League of Bryan. The family are long-time members of First Methodist Church of Bryan.

In the 1990s, Sharon worked at Texas A&M University in the Office of the President, where she planned and organized university and alumni events, including the dedication ceremony for the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library. A gifted organizer and natural hostess, she was known for her organizational skills and her talent for curating great events.

After retirement, Sharon and her husband, Charles “Charlie” Edward Neelley, enjoyed traveling together and exploring new places. When at home, Sharon devoted herself to being Charlie’s constant companion while remaining active in several of her women’s groups in Bryan. She also cherished time with her grandchildren, eagerly taking them on outings and sharing in their lives, a role that brought her great joy.

In later years, she and Charlie, faithfully watched Aggie games together. Wins brought joy to the household, while losses cast a noticeable gloom.

Sharon is survived by her husband of 42 years, Charles “Charlie” Edward Neelley; her three sons, James G. “Tres” Garland Watson and wife, Christi of College Station, Texas, Charles “Chas” Franklin Watson, and wife Adrienne of College Station, Texas, and Christopher “Chris” Dehnisch Watson of Navasota, Texas; and her stepchildren, Chuck Neelley of Taos, New Mexico, and Donna Munson of Coto de Caza, California.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Brittany Watson of Fairfield, Texas; Kay Watson of Los Angeles, California; Quade and Reid Watson of College Station, Texas; and Frank Watson, and wife Morghen of Killeen, Texas. Her step-grandchildren include Elizabeth Munson, and husband, Peter Schmidt of Santa Clarita, California; Michelle Munson of Coto de Caza, California; and Mary Rose Neelley of Atlanta, Georgia; as well as her step-great-granddaughter, Poppy Munson Schmidt of Santa Clarita, California.

Additional survivors include her brother, Dr. Frank Dehnisch, Jr., and sister-in-law Anne (McKinney) Dehnisch of Beeville, Texas; nephews Rusty Dehnisch, and wife Kelley Darling, and Scott Dehnisch, and wife Jennifer Switzer; great-niece Harly Dehnisch of Silver Spring, Maryland; great-nephew Eli Price; and great-niece Ottie Mae Dehnisch of Alexandria, Virginia; and numerous cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Methodist Church of Bryan, Texas, or to the Scholarship Fund of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority at Texas A&M University.