Vernell “Nellie” Giddens Mills, 71, of Dime Box, passed away on July 10, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in College Station. Nellie was born in Freeport, Illinois, on May 30, 1952, the daughter of Grover and Arleen Bunker Giddens.
She graduated high school in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and attended Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, and Cypress College in Cypress, California. Nellie completed courses of study from the New York Institute of Finance in Brokerage Operations and the Dean Witter Co. in Supervisory Development.
A member of Hou-Tex Vettes, Nellie won local races in her much-beloved yellow Corvette that she restored…sponsored by Coors Brewing Company, of course.
Nellie worked for many years as the Chief Financial Officer for Epsilon Engineering in Houston.
She married Frank Alfoldy in 1994, and they moved to Dime Box in 2001 to start a small cattle business and pursue Nellie’s passion for antiques. These endeavors resulted in the Windy Hill Ranch and Nellie’s Yesteryears Antiques. She continued to operate Yesteryears after Frank’s passing in 2010, ultimately closing the store in 2014.
Nellie lived out her remaining years with life partner, Steve Shaw, at Windy Hill Ranch until his passing in 2021. She continued to restore and sell antiques through her dear friend Marsha Waits’ shop, Mail Box Antiques in Dime Box.
She is survived by her brother, Lee Giddens of Houston, and a cast of varied characters fortunate enough to count her as a friend, including antiquers, decorators, gamblers, cowboys, ranchers, musicians, artists, accountants, race car drivers, and harp music lovers.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, where her ashes will be spread by cannon fire over the beautiful Windy Hill pastures she loved.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the veteran support or animal care organization of your choice.