Myrtle Almeda Hornsby Callan

Myrtle Almeda Hornsby Callan, 105, was born at Hornsby's Bend on July 7, 1902, to James Malcolm (Make) Hornsby and Annie Belle Morris and died July 26, 2007 at her home in Austin, Texas. "The Bend" is on the north bank of the Colorado where it takes a big bend, near Webberville, 9 miles east and downstream of Austin. It was where Myrtle's ancestors Reuben and Sarah Morrison Hornsby settled in 1832 when they left Hinds County, Mississippi in 1830 with Stephen F. Austin to become first settlers in present Travis County. Her paternal grandfather, Malcolm Hornsby, was Travis County Sheriff. Her dad, Make Hornsby, worked in the office of Steve Heffington, County Tax Assessor, in the old capitol building. Her maternal grandfather, Algernon Richard Morris, was the Travis County Tax Collector. Her maternal grandmother, Almeda Caroline Burditt, was the daughter of Giles Burditt, Travis County Sheriff. Myrtle was the second of four children. She was preceded in death by siblings Malcolm Morris Hornsby, Florine Hornsby Lundblad, and Harold Richard (Dick) Hornsby. Myrtle's mother, Annie Belle, died in 1910 in childbirth when Myrtle was seven leaving "Buddy Make" to raise four children under the age thirteen. Myrtle's aunts came to their brother's aide. Margaret Adelia (Delia) Hornsby Robertson, Amanda (Ammie) Hornsby Hunter, Molly Leanora Hornsby Platt, Helen (Het) Hornsby Crawford, Kate Isabella Hornsby Platt and Sarah H. (Sadie) Hornsby Sneed, his sisters, helped out. Margaret (Maggie) Morris Ham), Cornelia (Nelia) Morris Alford and Viney (Lavinia Morris Hamilton Hessey), Annie Belle's sisters, also made sure the kids were well cared for. Myrtle attended the one-room frame school, Hornsby School (later Hornsby-Dunlap), established as school district #33 by Travis County in 1906. Later the family moved into town so her brother, Dick, could attend Austin High and play football. Myrtle joined family members in the Reuben Hornsby Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas one year after the charter of the chapter in 1920, since she was away at college. She has been a DRT member 87 years. Myrtle attended San Marcos Teachers College (Southwest Texas Normal School) in San Marcos and received a BS in 1942 with a permanent teachers certificate. She taught one year at Carlson. Later, in Austin, Myrtle and several of her Hornsby cousins, Alta, Lea, Noma, and Exa, had the opportunity to study with Mrs. Max Bixler to learn to educate the deaf. This was the start of Myrtle's 30-year teaching career at the Texas School for the Hearing Impaired. Later, she was principal of the Lower School at the renamed Texas School for the Deaf, retiring in 1967. She is an honorary life member of the Texas School for the Deaf Alumni Association. Myrtle first attended First Southern Presbyterian Church and was a charter member of Wilshire (now Genesis) Presbyterian. In 1952, she married Joseph Patrick Callan, a widower. They lived on Archway, across the street from the north end of the UT campus. They camped and fished on the Pedernales. Later they moved to 49 Street on East Avenue (now 1-3 5) and then to Ave F in Hyde Park, where Myrtle lived at the time of her death. After the death of Joe P. Callan Sr., in 1962, Myrtle became a "road runner"-traveling with church friends and family. She knew the Hornsby family so well that she could tell how each member was related in every generation. For more than 100 years, her charm and wit made a lasting impression on all who met her. Her 23rd Annual Christmas Tree Trimming Party hosted by Sean Cleary and Rob Griffith was featured Christmas Eve, 2005, "On the Porch," on KXAN television. Survivors include six nieces: Jane Marie Gilliam, Austin; Molly Verr, Bandera; Dixie Patterson, Wimberley; Margaret Crawford, Baytown; Janie Dolecek, Evergreen, Colorado; and Ellen Cooper, Medina; sister-in-law, Teenie Donnelly, Baytown; step-grandsons, Pat and Tim Callan, Austin; numerous cousins including Glenda Black, Austin and John Hunt, Arnold, Maryland; and countless friends including Kay Johnson, Austin; Sean Cleary, South Africa; and Rob Griffith, Houston. Special thanks to longtime caregivers Gloria Rivera, Elena Campos and Ruth Forster and to Southern Care Hospice. Pallbearers are Kenneth Gilliam, Pat Callan, Tim Callan, Joe Black, Charlie Patterson, Billy Fred Platt, Hugh Hornsby, and Chris Black. Family visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on North Lamar. Services will be held Sunday, July 29th at 2:30 p.m. at Genesis Presbyterian Church, 1507 Wilshire Boulevard. Burial will follow at the Hornsby Family Cemetery on FM 969. (Webberville Road). Memorials may be made to Genesis Presbyterian Church or to the Hornsby Cemetery Association. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com