Courtesy 2013 Texas Rose Festival logo

Young women from Tyler area families will be featured during the Texas Rose Festival — “Raindrops on Roses and Other Favorite Things” — in the roles of queen, duchess of the rose growers and ladies-in-waiting.

They will take their place in the spotlight during the lavish Queen’s Coronation ceremony, set for Oct. 18 at the Cowan Center, and during Queen’s Tea and Rose Parade, both taking place on Oct. 19.

 ROSE QUEEN

 RACHEL VANDERPOOL CLYDE, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Clyde, is this year’s rose queen. An accounting major at the University of Texas at Austin, she plans to attend law school. She is a member of Pi Beta Phi. In Austin, she volunteers at Zavala Elementary School.

She said she is excited that many of her friends also are in the court.

“Many of my best friends are in it this year, so getting to be with them in the festival and also getting to meet all these other people, I think that’s what I’m looking forward to most,” she said during an interview earlier this year.

Miss Clyde’s family has been involved in the Texas Rose Festival since the early years of the festival. Her paternal great-grandmother, Patsy Kittrell Clyde, was one of the 1939 duchesses, and paternal great-grandfather Calvin Nelson Clyde Jr., was an escort in the same year. Her sister, Sar-ah Elizabeth Clyde, was rose queen in 2008.

“I knew I’d want to be a part of it (the festival) for sure,” Miss Clyde said. “I really didn’t think I’d be asked to be queen since my sister was queen. I didn’t think that was going to happen. … It’s been a huge part of my family, so I was always wanting to be a part of it when I got to be old enough.”

Family’s festival participation history

 mother, Elizabeth Harvey Clyde: 1973 attendant and 1981 lady-in-waiting;

 father, Calvin Nelson Clyde IV, 1983 escort;

 sister, Sarah Elizabeth Clyde, 2008 queen;

 brother, Calvin Nelson Clyde V, 1996 attendant and 2010 escort;

 brother, James Michael Clyde, 2008 scepter bearer;

 great-grandmother, Patsy Kittrell Clyde, 1939 duchess;

 great-grandfather, Calvin Nelson Clyde Jr., 1939 escort;

 great-grandfather, M.J. Harvey, 1947 festival president;

 aunt, Nancy Harvey Blomdahl, 1976 lady-in-waiting;

 uncle, John Milton Harvey, 1978 escort;

 aunt, Leigh Agnew Clyde, 1988 lady-in-waiting;

 aunt, Anna Clyde Malone, 1996 queen;

 uncle, John Kittrell Clyde, 1991 attendant, 2002 escort;

 great-aunt, Carol Clyde Wilson, 1963 Princess;

 great-uncle, Loran Luther Ferrell, 1968, queen’s escort;

 great-aunt, Pamela Ferrell Shillinglaw, 1971, lady-in-waiting;

 great-aunt, Eloise Clyde Chandler, 1974 queen.

Miss Clyde’s cousins who have been in the festival are: Katherine Clyde Ramsey, 1967, queen; David Wiley Clyde, 1967, attendant; Frances Harvey Keaton, 1974 lady-in-waiting; Ellenor Clyde Welch, 1967 attendant and 1975 lady-in-waiting; Katherine Harvey Diamond, 1987, lady-in-waiting; Lora Beth Clyde Arnold, 1988, queen; Carrie Ehmann Clark, 1990, lady-in-waiting; Caroline Ferrell Wall, 1993 lady-in-waiting; Corvin Watson Ferrell, 1996 escort; Aaron Freeman Paul, 1998 escort; Lauren Taylor Paul, 2000 lady-in-waiting; Patrick Ferrell Buckley, 2000 escort; Mimi Clyde Chandler, 2002 duchess; Elizabeth Blomdahl Spicey, 2003 lady-in-waiting; Caroline Wells Chandler, 2004 Duchess; Amanda Harvey Blomdahl, 2008 lady-in-waiting; Abigail Slade Clyde, 2008 attendant; Lauren Ferrell Clyde, 2008 attendant; and Clair Ann Malone, 2013 attendant.

 DUCHESS OF THE ROSE GROWERS

 TAYLOR BROOKE CARROLL, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Carroll, is an apparel merchandising major at Baylor University where she is in Delta Delta Delta sorority and academic honor societies. She plays on Tri Delta’s soccer and volleyball teams.

She attended Lindale High School and All Saints Episcopal School. In high school she was a standout soccer player and in the top of her class academically. Her many community service endeavors include volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity. As a child, she was a junior hostess at the Queen’s Tea.

 LADIES-IN-WAITING

 BLAKELY ELIZABETH BRAUGHTON, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Braughton, attends the University of Arkansas where she is Delta Delta Delta sorority’s sponsor chairman.

She is a graduate of Whitehouse High School where she was in National Honor Society and a volleyball standout. She served in Junior Symphony League.

Family’s festival participation history:

 mother, Melanie Braughton;

 father, Kevin S. Braughton, president and member of the Strutters;

 aunts, Lynda Evans and Elizabeth Boone;

 grandfather, Fred Nichols, Order of the Rose.

Her other Tyler relatives are grandparents, Fred and Emily Nichols; aunts and uncles, Bill and Lynda Evans and Dale and Elizabeth Boone. 

CAROLINE BLANCHE BROOKSHIRE, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Britton Parker Brookshire of Tyler, is a communications major at The University of Texas at Austin where she is Pi Beta Phi’s City Rush chairman and in National Honors Association.

Miss Brookshire attended All Saints Episcopal School and is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where she was in Student Senate, National Honor Society and Young Life. At All Saints, she was on volleyball and cheerleading squads.

She was a member of a competitive dance team and served in Junior Symphony League.

Miss Brookshire has been a rose queen’s scepter bearer and a duchess in Waco Cotton Palace and Austin Admiral’s Club pageants.

Family’s festival participation history:

 father, Britton Parker Brookshire, escort, Order of the Rose;

 mother, Sunni Feather Brookshire, coronation chair;

 brother, Blake Parker Brookshire, trainbearer and escort;

 brother, Chad Robert Brookshire, escort;

 brother, Ross Britton Brookshire, escort;

 grandfather, the late Bruce Glenn Brookshire, escort;

 grandmother, the late Peaches Parker Brookshire, duchess;

 uncle, Bruce Tim Brookshire, escort.

Other relatives who have been in the festival include the late Shirley Wood Brookshire, miniature court; the late Ann Howard Brookshire, lady-in-waiting; Katherine Howard Garland, queen in 1957; Bradley Wood Brookshire, escort; Karen Brookshire Womack, lady-in-waiting; Kirk Edward Brookshire, escort; Mark Howard Brookshire, escort; Susan Garland Allison, duchess; the late Shannon Hawley Ford, duchess; Parker Snider Cannan, escort; Leanne Garland Hudson, duchess; Wiley Lane Garland, escort; Garnett Clymer Holmes, duchess; Trenton Davis Brookshire, trainbearer and escort; London Brookshire Borelli, lady-in-waiting; Bruce Garnett Brookshire, escort; Anderson Wood Brookshire, attendant and escort; Clifford Bradley Brookshire, attendant; Lance McFadden Gilliam, escort; Matthew Wood Gilliam, escort; Layne Parker Brookshire, lady-in-waiting; and Clifford Bradley Brookshire, escort.

Tyler relatives include uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Brookshire.

CATHERINE RUTH BUTSCHI, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Alan Stratton, is an accounting major at The University of Texas at Austin where she is on Student Conduct Advisory committee and in Alpha Delta Pi.

While attending Robert E. Lee High School, she was on Dean’s Insight Network and an academic standout. She was an Honor Guard, received the Outstanding Student Award and was a Tyler Rotary Young Citizens Club member. She competed on varsity golf and tennis teams.

Family’s festival participation history:

 father, Thomas Robert Butschi, escort;

 mother, Brenda Stratton, dresser.

COURTNEY CARR DAVIS, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott Davis, attends Texas Christian University where she is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and on the dean’s list. She plans to attend law school.

She is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where she was in National Honor Society and Student Senate. She also was in Junior Symphony League, Young Life and Young Republicans.

She has been a Queen’s Tea junior hostess.

Family’s festival participation history:

 sister, Casey Ann Davis, lady-in-waiting and 1997 attendant to the Queen;

 mother, Susan Davis, Queen’s Tea chairman, Royalty chairman, Coronation chairman, marketing and publicity chairman;

 father, Robert Davis, member of Order of the Rose.

Other Tyler relatives include sister, Casey Ann Davis; aunt, Ginny Mattox; grandfather, John Carr Wilson; and cousins, Kelly and Gary Hodge, Pam and Mike Murphy, Carla and David Murphy and Margaret and Randy Murphy.

 ELISE HELENE GERARD, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Roy Dupuy Gerard Jr., is an economics major at Texas A&M University where she was on the rugby team and served in freshman leadership.

She is a graduate of All Saints Episcopal where she was a National Honor Society member, yearbook editor, cheerleader and soccer player. She has coached cheerleading and worked at Therapet Foundation.

Her volunteer service includes Royal Family Kids Camp, Gladney Family Association, 6000 Meters and Life Cycles.

 HANNAH BLYTHE GREENBERG, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Greenberg of Tyler, attends The University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. She is a member of Delta Delta Delta.

In high school she was in National Honor Society, Student Senate and Junior Symphony League. She competed on volleyball, cross country and track teams.

She has been a Queen’s Tea junior hostess and Camp Longhorn Indian Springs counselor.

Family’s festival participation history:

 father, Order of the Rose;

 mother, ladies luncheon chair, Queen’s Dresser; royalty co-chair; and many other roles;

 brother, Jake Greenberg, escort;

 aunt, Sandra Greenberg Goodman, lady-in-waiting;

 aunt, Debbie Greenberg Brink, lady-in-waiting;

 cousin, Sharon Greenberg Smith, lady-in-waiting;

 cousin, Gayle Greenberg Rosenberg, lady-in-waiting;

 cousin, Lauren Greenberg Gross, lady-in-waiting.

Other Tyler relatives include grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Eakin, and brother, Jake Greenberg.

HANNAH ELIZABETH HIGHTOWER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Russell Hightower, is a public relations/journalism major at The University of Oklahoma where she is on the dean’s list.

She is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High where she was in Student Senate, a class officer and in Leadership East Texas. She was involved in Young Life, Young Republicans, St. Jude and ET Food Bank Pantry Raid.

Family’s festival participation history:

 mother, Susan Earl Hightower, lady-in-waiting, Queen’s Tea Waiters chairman, and many other roles;

 father, Jack Russell Hightower, Order of the Rose;

 brother, Richard Zachary Hightower, escort;

 sister, Lily Ann Hightower, royal attendant to the Queen;

 aunt, Elizabeth Earl Althaus, lady-in-waiting;

 aunt, Amy Earl DeWalch, lady-in-waiting;

 aunt, Wendy Hightower Fulgham Walker, lady-in-waiting;

 uncle, Dr. Truman Markley Earl, escort;

 uncle, Patrick Glen Hightower, escort;

 cousin, Hallye Sue Fulgham, lady-in-waiting;

 cousin, John Rawles Fulgham IV, escort;

 cousin, Samantha Sims Fulgham, lady-in-waiting.

Other Tyler relatives include brother, Richard Zachary Hightower; sister, Lily Ann Hightower; grandparents, Ann Truman Earl, Dr. and Mrs. Gene Markley Earl; aunts and uncles, Mr. and Mrs. David Robert DeWalch, Mr. and Mrs. Cullom Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Glen Hightower; and cousins, Truman Robert DeWalch, David Hylen DeWalch and Elijah Joseph DeWalch, Hallye Sue Fulgham, John Rawles Fulgham IV and Samantha Fulgham.

 RACHEL LARAE JOHNSTON, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Ray Johnston of Tyler, is a business marketing major at the University of Oklahoma where she is in Kappa Kappa Gamma.

She is is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where she was Academic All-State in volleyball and in Student Senate.

Her community service includes Junior Symphony League, Race for the Cure, Soonerathon, Children’s Miracle Network, Second Chance Animal Shelter, St. Jude Children’s Hospitals and Carter Blood Care.

Her mother, Rachel LaRae Johnston, has served as a junior hostess at the Queen’s Tea.

Other Tyler relatives include grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny R. Johnston; aunt, Micki Scoggins; brother, Caleb Johnston; uncle, Kyle Johnston; and cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew May.

ALEX LIPSCOMB, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry W. Lipscomb of Flint, is a physical therapy major at Blinn College and a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School.

In high school, she was in Junior Symphony League and on cross country and soccer teams. She has been a Queen’s Tea junior hostess.

Family’s festival participation history:

 grandmother, Dorris Greer, duchess;

 great-aunt, Mary Graham, lady-in-waiting;

 aunt, Linda Graham, lady-in-waiting;

 cousin, Mary Lynn Robertson, duchess;

 cousin, Robert Michael Finn, Queen’s Escort;

 brother, Lee James Lipscomb.

Her aunt, Jill Graham Kinsey, has served as a festival volunteer.

Other Tyler relatives are Mr. and Mrs. Rickey H. Kinsey, uncle and aunt, and Lee James Lipscomb, brother.

KERRILL LAUREN MUELLER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dana Michael Mueller of Tyler, is a nutrition sciences major at Baylor University and a graduate of Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Regional Catholic School.

In college she is on the cross country and track teams. In high school she was in National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She has served in Junior Symphony League as a junior hostess at the Queen’s Tea and a volunteer for American Cancer Society and Nazareth Farm.

Family’s festival participation include:

 mother, Lisa Mueller, program chairman, wardrobe co-chairman, season launch party co-chairman and other roles.

 father, coronation usher and escort wrangler.

 cousin, Faye Comte, wardrobe committee

Other Tyler relatives include Michael David Mueller, brother; Michael David Chennault, grandfather; and Steven, Faye, Annie and Jane Comte, cousins. 

KATHRYN ANN NELSON, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Eric Nelson, is an energy management major at the University of Oklahoma She is in Kappa Kappa Gamma.

In college she is in National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Soonerathon and supports United Way and Reading is Fundamental.

She is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where she was in National Honor Society. She has served in Junior Symphony and as a Sunday School teacher.

Family’s festival participation:

 uncle, John Brian Nelson, escort;

 sister, Mary Margaret Nelson, train bearer;

 mother, Molly Simms Nelson, dresser for several years, marketing co-chairman and many other roles.

Other Tyler relatives include Mr. and Mrs. John H. Nelson and Mrs. Mary Simms, grandparents; John Brian Nelson, uncle; and Mary Margaret Nelson, sister.

HANNA RENEA RILEY, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Wilson Riley of Tyler, and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Wayne Wright of Allen, attended the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and is currently a public relations major at The University of Texas at Tyler.

She is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School and has served in Junior Symphony League, Young Republicans and Young Life.

Family’s festival participation:

 cousin, Kelli Riley.

Other family members who volunteered are Mrs. Robin Riley Wright, Stanley Wilson Riley and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Riley.

Other Tyler relatives include Ryan Steven Riley, brother; Elizabeth Ann Riley, sister; Kelli Ann Riley and Curtis Stanley Riley, cousins; Mr. and Mrs. Steve Riley, aunt and uncle.

REAGAN BROOKE SMITH, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Glen Smith of Tyler, is a business administration major at The University of Texas at Austin and in Delta Delta Delta.

She is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where she was in National Honor Society and Young Life and cheerleading squad.

She was also in Junior Symphony League, Texas Bank and Trust Student Board and volunteered at East Texas Children’s Advocacy Center and Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure.

Family members who have volunteered in the festival are Karie Ann Smith, Rose Show and Rose Ball committees, Ladies Luncheon Committee, Queen’s Coronation hospitality chairman and door keeper for the festival season launch party.

TAYLOR DAWN TILLSON, daughter of Rebecca Snider Tillson and Lee Tolbert Tillson, both of Tyler, is a communications and sports journalism major at The University of Texas at Austin where she is in Kappa Kappa Gamma

She is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School where was in National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Senate. She was a soccer standout.

Family’s festival participation history:

 uncle, Walter Herd Snider III;

 aunt, Katherine Snider Reid;

 aunt, Rebecca Snider Tillson;

 cousin, Jennifer Snider Holland.

Other Tyler relatives include Dr. and Mrs. Walter Herd Snider Jr., grandparents; Mr. and Mrs. Reid William Martin, aunt and uncle; Courtney Elizabeth Martin, Elise Marie Martin, Kaitlyn Reid Martin, Olivia Hages Martin, cousins; and Abigail Claire Tillson, sister.