Ann Goin Christenson

Ann Goin Christenson passed away peacefully at home on September 4 from breast cancer. Ann was born April 8, 1949, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston to Elizabeth Doss Goin and Charles William Goin, and named after her mother’s twin sister Eleanor. She was called Ollie by her family (from the way a young friend tried to say Eleanor); Ellie by her granddaughters; and Ann by most of her many, many friends and acquaintances.

Ann moved many times as a child as her dad served in the military and was transferred by Mobil Oil, including stints in Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Alexandria, Louisiana; Commerce, Texas; Dallas; Houston, and Overland Park, Kansas. She was later joined by brother Bob and sister Nan. She attended nine schools in twelve years, before graduating from Shawnee Mission South High School, where she was in the National Honor Society and on the first Raiders drill team.

Ann loved telling and hearing stories from her childhood. Highlights included her using scissors to cut Bob’s eyelashes and putting tabasco on their dad’s cigarettes to get him to stop smoking (it worked).

She graduated in 1971 from Texas Christian University with a BS in elementary education. While there she served as president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and received the national Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award from ADPi. She also participated in Campus Alumni Board and Mortar Board. She also met her future husband Jack Christenson at TCU, after sitting behind him in sophomore World Literature.

They married on August 7, 1971, in Fort Worth, and immediately moved to New Orleans, where Jack took up graduate studies and Ann found a teaching job in Arabi, Louisiana. For four years, Ann commuted through New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward in their non-air conditioned Mustang. In her spare time, she completed a master’s degree at Tulane University in Educational Administration and Supervision.

The couple moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1975 when Jack was hired by Celanese Corporation.

Ann soon got a job with the Education Service Center in Corpus Christi doing teacher training all across South Texas, particularly in the area of Gifted & Talented Education, and worked there with Madalyn Cooke who became a wonderful lifelong friend. She also served as a deacon for First Christian Church of Corpus Christi.

In 1979 they were blessed with the birth of their son Scott Matthew Christenson.

The family moved first to Dallas in 1983 and then to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1985 for Jack’s career with Celanese. Ann found great friends in every place she lived and jumped enthusiastically into all sorts of activities. As Scott started kindergarten, Ann enrolled in the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. She scheduled classes around Scott’s school schedule, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1989 and passed the Kentucky Bar on her first try. She had an individual practice in wills and estates. She also learned golf in Louisville, playing with Scott at a small municipal course.

In 1992, Jack was hired by Shell Chemical Company and the family moved back to Texas, settling in The Woodlands. Ann quickly integrated herself into the community. She joined the Nine Hole Golf League at The Woodlands Country Club, where she played for many years and again made dear lifelong friends. She also joined The Woodlands Methodist Church where she was a faithful member and worship attendee. The births of her granddaughters Violet and Anika were blessed events for her.

She was a dedicated volunteer for many charities, especially Interfaith of The Woodlands and Yes to Youth, as well as being a member of PEO. She was chosen as a Women of Distinction honoree for Montgomery County in 2007.

Ann was also an accomplished artist, especially in watercolor, and commuted to Houston to take classes at the Glassell School at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She took great pleasure in sharing art projects with the grandchildren.

She enjoyed travelling, often accompanying Jack on business trips in the US and in Europe. After grandchildren arrived, she loved planning family vacations for all. She pursued family genealogy and was able to visit old homelands in Kentucky and in Norway, among others.

She was blessed with “common sense”. Her granddaughters said that she was always prepared, and she was. They were blessed to have their Ellie as a babysitter and caregiver, especially in their preschool days, during which she imparted many valuable life lessons. She was an excellent money manager and saver, and the very best shopper of sales. She made friends easily and was a great listener.

While preparing for a long-awaited trip to England in October, 2016, Ann discovered a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic triple negative breast cancer, with a poor prognosis.

Undaunted, she met the challenge for six years with a positive attitude and a firm determination to carry on with as normal a life as possible for herself, family, and friends. During that time she also participated in a number of clinical trials, which she hoped would offer hope to others even if they fell short for her. Her faith also deepened after her diagnosis, and helped carry her through the hard times.

The family would like to give special thanks to all the doctors and staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center who cared for her, especially Drs. Damodaran and Yap.

She is survived by husband Jack, with whom she celebrated their 51st anniversary in August; her 103 year-old mother Elizabeth Goin of McKinney, Texas; her son Scott Christenson, his wife Lori, and granddaughters Violet and Anika of Houston; her brother Bob Goin and wife Caron, of Marietta, Georgia; her sister Nan Dakin and husband Bill of Fairview, Texas; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces whom she loved.

A Memorial Service for Ann will be held on Friday, September 9 at 10:00 am in the Robb Chapel at The Woodlands Methodist Church, 2200 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands TX 77380. Those who wish to express sympathy may consider making a donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Ann’s name.