Margaret Elder Neuhaus

Margaret Elder Neuhaus passed away peacefully at home on the 4th of September 2012. Peggy was born on the 26th of December 1921 in New York City. She grew up in Garden City, Long Island, graduating from St. Mary’s School in 1939. She attended Smith College, leaving after her freshman year to pursue a career in the theater. She acted with several local stock company groups in Long Island and New England. She reached Broadway as an understudy to Barbara Bel Geddes in the popular comedy “Out of the Frying Pan”. Peggy played the lead role herself for two weeks on the Broadway stage. During this period of her life she also began to do some fashion modeling. It all came to an end in the fall of 1942 when First Lieutenant Joseph Rice Neuhaus, US Army Infantry appeared at her doorstep in Garden City, Sam Brown belt, polished boots and all. Peggy and Joe had known each other when she was at Smith and he was at Yale. They were married three weeks later and, after a two day honeymoon in New York City, she went with him to his army camp in Wisconsin. They had about a year together during which their first child was born before Joe was sent overseas. Peggy returned to Garden City and resumed her modeling career becoming a very popular fashion model in New York. She appeared on the cover of most of the important fashion magazines of the time.

Following Joe’s discharge from the army, Peggy and Joe moved to Houston, Joe’s hometown. Peggy loved Houston, making many lifelong friends and participating actively in the social and cultural life of the community. She was a past president of the Houston Ballet and Planned Parenthood. She was active in the Junior League, the Houston Garden Club and the Town and Country Garden Club. Peggy enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and was an enthusiastic bridge player, playing frequently in recent years with friends, including her cohabitants at the Willowick Condominium, where she lived.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Rice Neuhaus; parents, Charles St. Clair and Ethel Horvath Elder; and her brother, Charles St.Clair Elder, Jr.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Laura Neuhaus Pew and Tom, Joseph Rice Neuhaus, Jr. and Lisa, Margaret Neuhaus Weekley and Dick, and Charles Elder Neuhaus and Tricia; her brother John Elder and wife, Virginia; her sisters-in-law, Kitty Neuhaus and Olive Jenny; her brother-in-law Philip Neuhaus; her grand-children: Katherine Hollar and Troy, Will Pew and Lauren, David Pew, Evan Mooney and Danny, Maggie Jenkins and Richard, Richard Weekley, Alison Putnam and Wes, Michael Weekley, Emma Gamson, Caroline Gamson, and Charles Elder Neuhaus, Jr.; and her great-grandchildren: Eliza and Margo Pew, Everett, Greta and Nate Hollar, and Annabel Mooney.

The family gives special thanks to Hilda West, Madia Hammond, Lucy Gillory and Martha West, whose long-term devoted warmth, care and thoughtfulness have been greatly appreciated by the family.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 7th of September, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston, where the Rev. Edward L. Stein, Canon Precentor, is to officiate.

Prior to Friday’s service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Mrs. Neuhaus may be directed to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, 4600 Gulf Frwy, Houston, TX, 77023; or to the charity of one’s choice.