Lillian "Eunice" Alexander was born in Windom, Fannin Co., Texas on 17 Jul 1896. Her parents were William Alexander and Clarissa "Clara" Hill. Her parents were from Tennessee, and her older brother and her younger brother were both born in Tennessee. Her two younger sisters were born in Oklahoma. The family moved to Oklahoma sometime between 1900 and 1905, and in 1919 she married Hugh Hennen. In 1921 their daughter, Annette, was born in Coweta, Oklahoma. Annette was their only child.
In 1934 the Hennen family moved to McAlester. Eunice was very active in First Presbyterian Church. Eunice was very devoted to living a truly Christian life. She enjoyed working in her garden. She would have a man come out every year and prepare the soil, but she did the actual gardening work herself. She would grow "Better Boy" tomatoes and cucumbers to make her Bread and Butter and Sweet Pickles. Eunice always made her canned pickles with her freshly picked cucumbers; this was so her pickles would be crisp and the same size.
Eunice or "Nonnie Hennen", the name she was called by her three grandchildren, was an excellent cook. She was always trying new recipes, and she subscribed to several ladies magazines. This allowed her to keep up with new cooking ideas. She would often say " This will make this a little bit better." Most all of the family holidays were at her daughter Annette's home. She always helped Annette by making delicious pies and cakes that she would bring a day before the meal. Then the day of the dinner she would bring a couple more things and rolls. At her own home, she would fry chicken, mash potatoes and with gravy, cook fresh green beans, and serve it all with her homemade rolls and a blackberry cobbler. The blackberries were ones she picked herself. Being able to have a meal cooked by her was a dream come true. Eunice was very generous with her cooking, and she always had a homemade cake for anyone new who moved into her neighborhood.
Eunice had a kind word for everyone she met. She loved her family and was there to take care of her elderly mother and her aunt. She and Hugh were models to anyone who met them. They were always loving and sweet and kind. They enjoyed road trips and visiting with family. Eunice and Hugh often went to Colorado to visit Eunice's younger sister Mildred and her husband Glen Beiderwell. She and Hugh enjoyed traveling in the United States and Canada, and she said that even though they did not leave continental North America they went everywhere they wanted to go.
It was a joy to spend time with Nonnie Hennen, as she represented what being the best a person can be, and most of us only work at being this wonderful a Christian. Eunice was a true inspiration, and everyone that knew her was blessed to have her in their lives, and she lived to be 100.
Lillian "Eunice" Alexander was born in Windom, Fannin Co., Texas on 17 Jul 1896. Her parents were William Alexander and Clarissa "Clara" Hill. Her parents were from Tennessee, and her older brother and her younger brother were both born in Tennessee. Her two younger sisters were born in Oklahoma. The family moved to Oklahoma sometime between 1900 and 1905, and in 1919 she married Hugh Hennen. In 1921 their daughter, Annette, was born in Coweta, Oklahoma. Annette was their only child.
In 1934 the Hennen family moved to McAlester. Eunice was very active in First Presbyterian Church. Eunice was very devoted to living a truly Christian life. She enjoyed working in her garden. She would have a man come out every year and prepare the soil, but she did the actual gardening work herself. She would grow "Better Boy" tomatoes and cucumbers to make her Bread and Butter and Sweet Pickles. Eunice always made her canned pickles with her freshly picked cucumbers; this was so her pickles would be crisp and the same size.
Eunice or "Nonnie Hennen", the name she was called by her three grandchildren, was an excellent cook. She was always trying new recipes, and she subscribed to several ladies magazines. This allowed her to keep up with new cooking ideas. She would often say " This will make this a little bit better." Most all of the family holidays were at her daughter Annette's home. She always helped Annette by making delicious pies and cakes that she would bring a day before the meal. Then the day of the dinner she would bring a couple more things and rolls. At her own home, she would fry chicken, mash potatoes and with gravy, cook fresh green beans, and serve it all with her homemade rolls and a blackberry cobbler. The blackberries were ones she picked herself. Being able to have a meal cooked by her was a dream come true. Eunice was very generous with her cooking, and she always had a homemade cake for anyone new who moved into her neighborhood.
Eunice had a kind word for everyone she met. She loved her family and was there to take care of her elderly mother and her aunt. She and Hugh were models to anyone who met them. They were always loving and sweet and kind. They enjoyed road trips and visiting with family. Eunice and Hugh often went to Colorado to visit Eunice's younger sister Mildred and her husband Glen Beiderwell. She and Hugh enjoyed traveling in the United States and Canada, and she said that even though they did not leave continental North America they went everywhere they wanted to go.
It was a joy to spend time with Nonnie Hennen, as she represented what being the best a person can be, and most of us only work at being this wonderful a Christian. Eunice was a true inspiration, and everyone that knew her was blessed to have her in their lives, and she lived to be 100.
