Connie Louise Frederick Townsend, 83, passed from this life July 2, 2024. Connie was born in Adams County, Iowa to W. Paul and Jessie Retland Frederick on October 4, 1940. Her father purchased a farm in Adair County near Orient, IA in 1941, and this is where she spent her ''growing-up" years. Throughout her school years, Connie was active in all available music organizations, in girls' 4-H, and basketball. She graduated as valedictorian of her class of 15 students at Orient Consolidated School in 1958.

Connie attended Drake University for 1-1/2 years, then decided she'd rather live in Texas and graduated with a Bachelor's in Music from UNT (then NTSU) in 1962. Following graduation, she and Don Townsend married and moved to Huntsville, AL where Don went to work for the Marshall Space Flight NASA Center. During this time, Connie worked for about 2 years for Thiokol Chemical Co. They were blessed with the birth of daughter Tracy, 1964, and son Ted in 1967. When Don had an opportunity to move to Johnson Space Center in Houston, they moved to Deer Park, TX in 1968.

Connie decided to try substitute teaching in 1969, but an opportunity to be hired as a choir and language arts teacher occurred, and she began fulltime employment with DPISD in October, 1969. She soon began working on her Master's degree in education at U of Houston and completed that in 1975. In the meantime, she decided she actually preferred teaching language arts and switched to all LA classes. She first taught at Deepwater Jr. High but moved to Bonnette Jr. High when it opened. She taught primarily 8th grade language arts there, becoming dept. chair in 1992, and retiring after 25 years of teaching in 1994.

Following retirement, she and Don decided to investigate living in the Texas Hill Country and moved to Hunt, TX in January 1996. She began attending Hunt UMC, singing in the choir there until she finally agreed to become the choir director full-time in 1999, a position she held until retiring after 20 years in 2020. In 2001, the Hill Country Chorale formed and she was a faithful member of that group until her passing. She also decided to take the Master Gardener training in 2005, and completed the Vegetable Specialist training in 2014. For many years she shared her knowledge of vegetable gardening with presentations throughout the Hill Country.

Connie was a member of the Hunt Garden Club. For several years, she also participated in the Hunt School Discovery Garden. Connie also enjoyed her association with the local book club, the Village Literary Society in Hunt.
Connie loved to cook. She gathered recipes over the years and in 1995, published her own cookbook, Connie's Crock of Cookery. Particularly well known for her cakes, pies and cookies, Connie would often bring her sweet creations to various gatherings.

Connie was predeceased by her parents; husband, Don Townsend; sister and brother-in-law, Marge and Irvin Lynn; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Durwood Purdy; brother, William (Bill); brother and sister-in-law, Charles (Chuck) and Phyllis Frederick; and nephew, Leland Frederick.

She is survived by daughter, Tracy Folk of Deer Park, TX, grandson, Jacob Folk and granddaughter, Jessie Folk; also, son, Dr. Ted and Beth Townsend, and granddaughters Mica and Morgan Townsend of San Diego, CA; sister-in law, Lois (Bill) Frederick; and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the neuro ICU medical team of Methodist Hospital of San Antonio, Grimes Funeral Chapels, as well as friends and family who have supported us on this difficult journey.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Connie at Hunt United Methodist at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, August 10, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hunt United Methodist Church, Hill Country Master Gardeners (HCMG Connie Townsend Memorial Fund), Kerrville Chorale, Hunt Garden Club or a local animal shelter.

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