Brenda Stokley Lanclos, beloved wife, devoted mother and grandmother, sister and friend to all, passed away on March 3, 2011 after a two year struggle with cancer of the peritoneum. At the will of God, she is now at peace. Our hearts will remain with her forever and with remembrance of her poise and grace. Brenda was born on October 10, 1946 in Longview, Texas to Alton Stokley and Opal Tutt Stokley. After graduating from Pine Tree High School and while attending Kilgore, Jr. College, she married her high-school sweetheart and husband of 45 years, Nester Jim Lanclos. She later completed her undergraduate, graduate and post graduate studies in education at Lamar University and the University of Houston. Brenda enjoyed a career in education, which included teaching in K-12 public school systems (1968 1998), and serving seventeen years as principal of elementary and middle schools in Houston ISD. The schools she served were Mentor Schools for the state of Texas and gained national, state, and local recognition for successful development and implementation of varied progressive initiatives. After being named Secondary Principal of the Year for her region, and serving 29 years in Houston ISD, she retired for the first time. In 1998, Jim work carried her to Toledo, Ohio, where she taught full time in the graduate school, College of Education, The University of Toledo (UT), from 1998 2005. At UT, she developed and directed a Center of Reform for Education (CORE), which provided out-reach professional development for schools systems in SE Michigan and NW Ohio. She also managed leadership grants for the Ohio Department of Education and provided training for local school boards of education. Although she loved her many new friends, the four seasons and the beauty of the Midwest, she missed her family and friends in Houston. In 2005, she retired the second time and moved back home to Houston,Texas. Realizing she was a failure at retirement, she searched for flexible work to reconnect to her passion for helping urban school systems to create greater excellence. From 2005 2009, she served as consultant for HISDs Office of Leadership Excellence, the Texas Education Agencys Office of Accountability, and for a non- profit organization, All Kinds of Minds, where she managed a grant provided by The Brown Foundation. Her work centered on building and sustaining professional learning communities at all levels within school communities, including parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members. In January 2009, she was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and, therefore, retired the third time She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Nester Jim Lanclos, son Chris Lanclos and wife Susan Lanclos and their children Stephen and Lauren and daughter Amanda Lanclos Smith and husband Jeff Smith, and their children Tylar and James. Brenda leaves two sisters, Connie Stokley Hill and husband Johnny Hill of Shore Acres, TX. and Lynda Stokley Schoon and husband Pastor Charles Schoon of Longview TX, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Brenda will be remembered for her genuine and gentle care for all others as well as for her poise and grace. Brenda was a member of the All Saints in the Heights for many years where she served in several ministries and is currently a member of St Marys in League City. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Crowder Funeral Home in Webster, TX with the Rosary beginning at 6:00 PM. The funeral mass will be held 10:30 AM Monday, March 7, 2011 at St. Marys Catholic Church, 1612 East Walker in League City, Fr Howard Drabek will serve as celebrant. A private Rite of Committal will be held at a later date. . The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to her doctors: Dr. Amy Hassan, Oncologist at MD Anderson and Dr. Larry Watson at Christus St. John. The family also wishes to thank the nurses and staff of the Oncology 4 th floor at Christus St. John Hospital and the staff at Odyssey Hospice at Select Specialty Hospital in the Heights, who held Brenda in their hearts for the extended time she was with them. The family was supported by so many friends, but expresses heartfelt thanks to Pat Anderson and Kay Metcalf, who gave two years of devotion to sweet Brenda. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that contributions in Brendas name be directed to the American Cancer Society or to the charity of ones choice. CROWDER FUNERAL HOME - WEBSTER