Fred S. Horlen

Fred S. Horlen, 98, passed away Saturday morning July 11, 2020. He was born in Gonzales County on March 31, 1922 to John Horlen of Willow City and Agnes Estelle Lester of Cost, Texas. He grew up during the Depression where his early years were spent working long hours on the family farm in Gonzales County and traveling to the Hill Country to help take care of properties in Llano and Gillespie counties. After his mother passed away in 1937, he increasingly spent more time in the Hill Country raising cattle. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.

When World War II broke out, he proudly served in the Army Air Corp in the Pacific. Upon returning home from the war, he married Evelyn Rose Knandel on May 23, 1948. They settled on the ranch in southeast Llano County where he remained most of his life. While raising a family, he worked as a carpenter building homes in the area in addition to raising cattle. He served the local community on various Boards in Llano County, including several terms on the Soil Conservation Service and Farm Bureau Boards. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Marble Falls where he served on various committees and ushered for over 60 years. In the mid-1980s, he retired from carpentering and spent more time on the ranch.

After Evelyn’s death, Fred met and married Nina Katherine Crout on May 26, 1990. Nina loved to travel and she showed him many parts of the world and he taught her about ranch life.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn and his second wife Nina, as well as a son Stanley and two sisters. He is survived by a son Joe (Becky) Horlen of Brenham, a daughter Elaine (Larry) Smith of Horseshoe Bay, and a stepson Don (Mary) Crout of South Carolina. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

In accordance with the current health restrictions graveside services for family members only were held on Wednesday, June 15, 2020 at Marble Falls City Cemetery under the direction of Clements Wilcox Funeral Home with Pastor Tommie Tucker officiating.