Louise Tunnell Prior's Obituary
Thelma Louise Alexander Voglesong Tunnell Prior
Born Saturday, October 22, 1921, at home in Dallas, Texas
Died Friday, February 5, 2021 at daughter’s home in Fort Worth, Texas
Louise Prior ~ of Grit and Grace
Thelma Louise Alexander Voglesong Tunnell Prior ~ within that name is a great deal of love and loss, grit and grace.
Louise always remembered her childhood with great love and affection. When she entered the Alexander family on Exline Street in 1921 in a home her father built, it was already bustling with activity with three older brothers Leon (16), Eugene (14), and Leroy (5) as well as family members “coming and family going.” It was a big house that had a circle staircase from the Old Dallas Hotel. She and her sister enjoyed playing with their china dolls and the furniture for the dolls her father built (bed, dresser, armoire, and kitchen) She loved the baby grand piano her father bought and she and Lucille played the piano in their music room. She would learn at an early age two guiding Alexander principles: the importance of family and “there’s always room for one more.” Although she loved and adored her big brothers, it was with her baby sister Lucille she would forge a deep abiding bond that would carry them through 9 decades of sharing laughter and tears, triumphs and tragedies, love and loss but always they simple shared joy of just being together until Lucille passed away in 2019. One of the most touching memories of their bond I witnessed on a visit Louise and I made to Highland Springs to visit Lucile several years ago. Cherie brought some pictures from a recent reunion held at their Alma Mater, Forest Avenue High School. They broke out into song to the words of their old school song never missing a beat or a single word! It was a marvel to see these two laughing and giggling just like the beautiful school girls they were 80 years ago. Louise only laughs like Lucille when they are together.
After she graduated Forest Avenue High school early in January 1939. She carpooled to North Texas Agricultural College that is now UTA in Arlington, TX, where she graduated with a Science degree. Louise’s plan s to be a music teacher were interrupted when Cupid’s arrow struck. She met and married the handsome, dashing George Voglesong. As a war bride of World War II, she would follow her husband from coast to coast making many friends along the way and becoming a mother. They had 3 children Sharon, Butch and Keith all 2 years apart were the joy and light of her life. She was a full-time mother and met her best friends, Betty & Bernie in Upland, CA. The landlord said when Louise cleaned she moved all the furniture out of the house to mop and wax the floors and I had to turn people away because they thought she was moving out and wanted to rent the place. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce and she returned home to Exline Street. It was not easy being a divorced mother in the 50’s, but true to her nature, she “dug in,” she was working at the telephone company. She did not know her job would become a career of 30 years. Her managers were always trying to promote her since she had strong work ethics and a college degree. She said I get to leave at 5 pm to start my other full time job of raising my children. You have to stay late and take work home. No thank you. She bought her first car and was too embarrassed to tell the salesman she didn’t know how to drive, so she had the car delivered. She and Lucille had fun learning how to drive a standard and laughed while grinding the gears. Her father and brothers struggled with teaching the girls.
Working hard and raising three active children, it didn’t appear Cupid would ever have another chance. However, without warning, a Prince Charming Youth minister would sweep her off her feet and the whole family with her while attending St. Marks Methodist Church in Oak Cliff. Cleo Tunnell not only loved and adored her but also cared deeply for her, but also cared deeply for her three children as if they were his own. They took the kids on every date. Usually go to the park, or swimming and sports at the Y followed with burgers on Friday night. They eloped in Rockwall because she said, “They had the prettiest marriage license,” and since his parents didn’t want him to marry an older woman with 3 kids and her mother didn’t approve of any man that her girls dated. They had a wonderful loving marriage.
She did not know how young he was before she fell in love. Cleo drove a Metropolitan car and everyone at church called it a clown car because he could put so many youths in the car and when they arrived everyone stood around to count how many people got out of the tiny car. But looking back over the years they realized they both grew up attending Ervay Street Methodist Church. Where Louise played the piano in the 3-year old classroom, the teacher would see Cleo running around the room and say Cleo go stand next to Louise while she played and he would. He learned to play the piano by ear. He never read music like she did. Cleo was kind, generous, funny with a heart bigger than Texas. To know him was simply to love him and we all did. He made her happy and it seemed they had “two hearts that beat as one.” Cleo wanted two kids when they got married a boy and a girl. Their marriage was blessed with the addition of Cherie whom he loved and adored too. He said we don’t need any more. They settled into a rhythm of a happy, active family only to have it tragically cut short when Cleo passed away in his sleep at the age of 43. Their dream of growing old and traveling together slashed. Cherie said, My Mom said, “I never realized how much I loved your father until he was gone”. She said she owed everything she had to Cleo because he prepared for the future.
In spite of her devasting grief, she turned her energy and attention to those she loved. She stayed busy with a young 18-year old Cherie, Sharon and her family of Carolyn, John and Scott, her mother Maude and Aunt Charlie, Uncle James, her church and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary activities. She found 1979 to be a very busy year helping to plan two weddings in one year only months apart. Pam and Robert Keith’s wedding in September and Kyle and Cherie’s wedding in December. Her favorite vacation was the 1980 DAVA convention in Hawaii and always dreamed of returning one day. Then quiet unexpectedly Cupid had other plans. Walt Prior literally danced his way into her heart and life at a DAV convention in Las Vegas and became her third husband. We all loved the mild-mannered, gentleman with a quick wit and smile who brought her great joy again. He may have been a Yankee by birth, but she made him a Texan by heart. Life together was simple and good as they enjoyed dancing, traveling to connect with families (she even won over Walt’s first wife and family) or simply just spending time together watching the hummingbirds. However, her nettle and faith would be tested once again when she lost Walt way to soon to cancer. I even wondered at the time, how Louise could be so strong, after so much sadness in her life. Over the years, I began to understand that pure faith and pure grit allowed her to come back stronger each and every time.
After Walt’s passing she moved to Plano, to be near her daughter, where her home on Warwick Street became the “hub” of many family celebrations and activities. As her family expanded to in include “great” and “great-great” grandchildren so did her heart. There was always room for one more to love and cherish. This was extended to all who came to visit or stay awhile. The fridge was always filled with cold soda or tea; her candy dish replenished at all times; her favorite “sweet treat,” whether Blue Bell, cookies, or brownies were available just in case. She was a lovely welcoming hostess, so it was no wonder her home was filled with lively conversations, exchange of family photos and events, and many visitors. I was one who loved making the journey from Austin for a weekend of leisurely lunches, “girl talk,” and visits to Lucille and L.B. My cousins Eugenia (Gee Gee) and Pam felt the same welcoming love as did Walt’s son Dan.
Louise also kept the family connected through her beautiful cards for every special occasion. It had to be a challenge even with a planning book with a family as large as ours because she included my children and grand-children. Once on a whim, I tried to calculate her cost over the years. When I shared she probably could have made a number of trips to her favorite place Hawaii, she dismissed me with a wave of her hand and promptly changed the subject. She was not amused ~ family was more important!
Life on Warwick Street was active and busy with days filled with DAV involvement with Cherie, volunteer work at the VA Hospital in Oak Cliff, driving senior citizens to their cancer treatment or appointments, deliver Meals on Wheels, church activities at Christ UMC and her relationships with my mom, niece Christine, Ramone and Lucille and L.B. Even here she couldn’t escape devasting losses like her oldest daughter Sharon, and her husband Don, her brothers Leon and Eugene, her daughters-in-law Helen and Pam, a niece Janis, her sister Lucille and her husband L.B. and her dear friend Ramone as well as many other friends. However, she still found joy in her “winter years,” which others call old age. Louise kept her mind and body active and defied the aging process, which amazed many. She exercised through going to dances several days a week and did line dancing for many years, read books and did solve puzzles and exercise every night before going to sleep. She was fiercely independent (a bit too much at times) and amazing.
An unfortunate fall forced her to surrender that independence and leave her home convinced she would return soon. That would not be the case as her last remaining years would be entrusted to Cherie and Natalie in Fort Worth. No one could have received more loving and devoted care in their hands. Cherie is her “Mother’s Daughter” in every aspect. Her home and heart are always open for just one more or 5 or 6!!! As Louise’s health deteriorated, her every whim or request was met. It was not uncommon for Cherie to be awakened and make a mid-night drive thru for a special item or get up in the middle of the night to cook a full breakfast with muffins because her mother simply asked. No need or request was ever to big for Cherie … unselfish love for sure.
Unthinkable dark days would come, but even in those times, I would receive a call or text from Cherie usually beginning with the words, “You won’t believe what Mom said or did” followed by a comical moment or humorous story. These moments were reminders of her incredible strength of “grit and sass.” She was still our Louise! As much as none of us wanted to let her go, she passed away in her sleep. We were left with feelings of happiness she was “Home” at last with lost loved ones and no longer in pain, but with deep profound grief at this loss… especially for Cherie and her family.
“Where there is great love there is even greater loss.” Those words ring true as we all mourn for Louise. However, she has left behind in the story of her life a great gift. Where many aspire to leave behind fame and fortune or both. Louise wrote her legacy on each and every heart she touched. I pray in the sad days ahead we will remember her gift was far greater. Louise was a remarkable woman who stood strong against the storms of life, lived a life filled with purpose and passion and love without reservations or judgement. Her legacy is assured if each of us passes it on with as much love without reservations or judgement.
When I was asked once whom I would put on a list of the five most influential people in my faith journey. I wrote Louise’s name down with my Aunt Lucille and Uncle L.B. without hesitation. So, I am expecting when my time comes to “cross-over” these Guiding Stars will be among those with smiling faces, open arms, and the words, “There’s always room for one more.”
A Loving Tribute
To my Beloved Aunt
Judy Carol with insert from her daughter Cherie
She had a life full of love and great memories as the matriarch of the Alexander/McKinney clan.
She is survived by her son, George “Butch” Voglesong, and daughter Cherie Tunnell-Hansard, step-son Dan Prior and his wife Mary; her grand-children Carolyn Bailey-Styne, John Rabon, Scott Rabon, Robert Voglesong Jr, Jacob Voglesong, Natalie Hansard and Kevin Hansard; 9 great-grand-children, and 7 great-great-grand-children and many other family members.
She is preceded in death by her parents John Frank & Maude Alexander; brothers Leon, Eugene, Laurin, and Leroy Alexander, and sister Lucille Broach and her husband L.B.; daughter, Sharon Rabon and her husband Don, son Robert Voglesong and his wife Pam, and daughter-in law Helen Voglesong; grandson Richard Styne and many other family members.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Louise honor:
Christ United Methodist Church 3101 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075
DAV Auxiliary 11912 Averette Ct. Aledo, TX 76008
Lighthouse Fellowship Methodist Church 7200 Robertson Road Fort Worth, TX 76135
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