Sara May Meriwether

Sara May McCampbell Meriwether Sara May Meriwether, 73, died peacefully, surrounded by her family at Christopher House in Austin on October 4, 2003, following a long illness. Born March 5, 1930, in Corpus Christi, Mrs. Meriwether excelled on high school debate and tennis teams and served as editor of the Quill and Scroll Society publication. She was valedictorian of her Corpus Christi High School graduating class and earned a BA in Liberal Arts from The University of Texas in 1951. The only child of William B. McCampbell and Violet Raulston McCampbell, “Sara May” was the fifth generation of her family in Corpus Christi. She grew up paddling a canoe made by her father, chasing cousins down the street and playing the piano. Her grandmother’s Ward-McCampbell home stands as the Irish Cultural House in the city’s downtown Heritage Park. In Austin, Mrs. Meriwether strummed a ukelele to harmonize in evening sing-alongs and one night, lingered over a piano, locked in the gaze of former Dallasite, George Kimball Meriwether. The two music lovers married on October 6, 1962, and commenced a duet that lasted 41 years. Inspired by their honeymoon in Hawaii, “the Meri’s” built a free-flowing, Polynesian-style home opening onto a palm-shaded courtyard where they hosted countless friends with mutual interests in dancing, bridge, entertaining, gardening and art. Their extensive travels led the couple to serve many years as co-chairs of the UT Flying Longhorns Travel Committee. A longtime member of the Thankful Hubbard Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the William Barret Travis Daughters of the Texas Revolution historical organizations, Mrs. Meriwether completed a ten-year research study of ancestor Thomas William “Peg Leg” Ward, Republic of Texas war hero, land commissioner and first mayor of Austin. The Texas State Historical Association published her findings in The New Handbook of Texas volume 6, and the UT Barker History Library housed a collection of Ward’s papers and memorabilia. Mrs. Meriwether was a devoted mother whose positive outlook and appreciation of education and beauty nurtured not only her family but also the Austin community. She served as president of the Bryker Woods and Pease School P.T.A.’s, board member of the UT Ex-Students Scholarship Committee, reviewing applications and granting numerous scholarships for many years, and was a founder of the UT L.A.M.P. continuing education program. A natural artistic talent led her to studying painting at Laguna Gloria, and she helped establish The Umlauf Sculpture Garden as a founder and first president of the Friends of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. Elected a UT Goodfellow because of her academic and leadership qualities, Mrs. Meriwether lent enthusiastic support to other groups including UT Mortar Board, Spooks, Orange Jackets and Varsity Debate Team; The English Speaking Union; Kappa Alpha Theta sorority; Helping Hand Society service organization. She was president of Austin Junior League Sustainers and The Austin Assembly. Mrs. Meriwether is survived by her husband, George K. Meriwether; daughter and son-in-law Beth Fowler and Mike Buls; son and daughter-in-law Bill and Lynn Fowler; grandchildren Will and Laura Fowler, all of Austin. Services will be held at 4:00 PM, Thursday in The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, located on the corner of Windsor Rd. and Exposition Blvd., with the Reverends David Fikes and William Y. Fowler officiating. A reception will immediately follow at Tarry House, 3006 Bowman Ave. The family of Mrs. Meriwether wishes to express grateful appreciation for all who assisted her in The Heritage at Gaines Ranch, Seton and South Austin hospitals, South Austin Cancer Clinic, Southwood Care Center, Hospice Austin and Christopher House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Texas Exes Scholarships, “Sara May Meriwether Memorial Scholarship,” P.O. Box 7278, Austin, Texas, 78713 or entered online at www.texasexes.org. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com .