Wynelle Ray Cavness

CAVNESS, WYNELLE RAY (1930 ~ 2021). The following is an obituary for Wynelle Ray Cavness, spouse of former Texas House Member Don Cavness. The obituary was provided buy Cook-Walden Funeral Home of Austin.

Doris Wynelle (“Nelle”) Ray Cavness Hickerson was born to Ben E. Ray and Phoebe Lucas Ray on July 17, 1930 in Roanoke, Texas. Nelle passed away on July 19, two days after her 91st birthday, surrounded by her children and family during her last days. The Ray family spent their early years in the Hutto and Taylor area, moving to Austin in 1938. Nelle was active in their church, Hyde Park Baptist, and enjoyed swimming, piano, and performing in the Austin High Red Jackets Drill Team. After graduation in 1947, she married Don Cavness of Austin (1948) and they had three children, Susan, Randy and Carolyn. Nelle enjoyed hosting family and friend get-togethers, water sports, was an expert seamstress, and played the piano in church. After Don’s death in 1994, she married Doyle Hickerson in 2000 and enjoyed their life together until his death in 2016. Nelle also was part of the senior Classy Ladies Tap Dancing group and especially loved snagging a spot in the movie “Bernie” with them. She was greatly blessed to be a part of the Buckner Greenridge Retirement Facility, having many longtime friends in that community.

She is survived by her brother, Gerald Ray, of Houston and her children Susan (Susie) Hawkins (OS) of Dallas, Randy Cavness (Jennifer) of Johnson City and Carolyn Cavness Chaffee (Stephen) of Alto, Texas. Nelle has five granddaughters, Wendy Hawkins Hermes, Holly Hawkins Shivers, Lindsay Cavness Gollner, Jessica St. John Owens, Sarah St. John and nine great grandchildren.

The family thanks the staff at Dell Seton hospital for their excellent care and expertise. Also many thanks go to the staff and caregivers at Senior Minded as well as the staff and many friends at Buckner Greenridge. Donations in memory of Nelle Cavness Hickerson can be made to Guidestone Mission Dignity, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Ste 2200, Dallas Tx 7244-6152, www.missiondignity.org and Austin Baptist Church, 7016 Ribelin Ranch Dr, Austin Tx 78750, www.Austinbaptistchurch.com. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Aug 20 at 4:30pm at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, Texas.