Megan Robbins Santee

Megan Robbins Santee, 55 of New Braunfels, Texas, was called home to higher service early Monday morning. Megan's passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew her. Megan's life was a testament to selfless dedication. She poured her heart into serving others, whether it was her family, her friends, her clients, or her favorite causes. Her unwavering commitment and compassionate spirit touched countless lives, and she will be remembered for her kindness, her strength, her intellect, and the genuine care she extended to everyone around her.

Born in Dallas, Texas to W. R. and Susan Hawkins, Megan was a graduate of Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, Baylor University, and Texas A&M University School of Law. Megan had a lifelong passion for the written word. A quiet observer of life around her, she preferred to express herself in her writing. She began with her poetry in high school, then wrote for the Baylor Lariat as a journalism major. Law school introduced her to the art of brief writing that culminated in a position as a briefing attorney at the 11th District Court of Appeals upon graduation. Megan met her future husband, Dan Santee, during her sophomore year at Baylor. Dan was no match for the countless letters and notes written by Megan, and they married the summer after graduation.

Dan and Megan took turns going to law school and were blessed to find an opportunity to work together as attorneys for the City of Abilene. They again had that opportunity when they each joined the firm where they both now work, Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech. Megan also held a certification in public management and spent time with the City of Abilene as Director of Public Works among other management positions. But Megan was not all work and no play. She was an avid lover of the outdoors, especially if the outdoors included a beach and an ocean. She loved to play and watch tennis, she enjoyed a nice run through the neighborhood, and she fully embraced any good home renovation project.

Megan prided herself on being a professional working mom. Noah, Esther, Joshua and Mary-Katherine were no strangers to City Hall or the law firm, regularly spending time at the office. Megan reciprocated by making it to every school performance, tennis tournament and as many baseball, softball, and football games as she could with four kiddos going in four directions. Not to mention the dance recitals, band performances and teaching on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings at church. Megan also found the time, love, and energy to be a placement coordinator for an international exchange program, hosting five students over eight years herself….students she maintained contact with over the years as they became young women, wives and mothers themselves.

Megan embraced the challenge of mentoring young women and helping them navigate the unique challenges she knew they would face in trying to juggle the responsibilities of home and work. She imparted this same wisdom to her daughters as well as her sons. Megan believed that her girls should know how to run power tools, and her boys should be able to do anything in a kitchen….and they each excelled in all of the above. A favorite memory for Megan was the boys versus girls “Chopped” competition staged in the home kitchen during the pandemic (the boys won, anchored by Dan’s dessert!)

Megan was taken far too soon from those who loved her so much, but she also packed two lifetimes of experiences, love and service into those years. Dan had many nicknames for the love of his life and would often refer to her as his little Vulcan because of her ability to remain so calm and quick-witted when he and everyone else could not. She credited that to being her engineer father’s tomboy through her childhood.

Megan and Dan loved trips to Jamaica. She fell in love with the Jamaican culture, food and people and had planned to return again this year. Meg was happiest with her toes in the sand, a nice prosecco in one hand, and a Clive Cussler book in the other. She had also embraced camping in her Airstream Basecamp…named Calypso after a Star Trek The Next Generation shuttle craft and Jacques Cousteau’s boat. For the record, yes, Megan could hook it up, drive it, back it, and set it up by herself, but she usually let Dan come along to cook. She had a huge heart for animals and adopted many rescues over the years. She was particularly fond of Great Danes…adopting three in succession…Samson, Boaz and then Margot. She attributed her love of the big dogs to her childhood Airedale Terrier Remington.

Megan was the most no-nonsense, down to earth, honest person you would meet, and though I am not the writer she was, I have tried to honor her memory and provide you a small glimpse of why she was so loved by so many. Though she is no longer with us in person, her spirit and the positive impact she had will forever remain a part of each person who knew her. Part of being who she was also means she did not like being the center of attention and she did not want a fuss made about her. She wanted to be cremated and to end her journey on a beach somewhere.

Megan is survived by her mother Susan and father W. R., her sisters Jane (and her husband Rob) and Heather (and her husband John David), her husband Dan and their four children, Noah, Esther, Josh and Mary-Katherine; and numerous amazing nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Megan’s family, friends and colleagues will honor her extraordinary life by continuing to champion the legacy of service and love that she so beautifully embodied and will host a Celebration of Life on Sunday February 16th, from approximately 1:30-4:00 at the Bluebonnet Hall in the Schertz Civic Center at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building 5, Schertz Texas. We will have time of fellowship, a short message of hope and words from some friends and light food and drink. We request that you dress in your favorite sundresses and summer vacation attire. Megan was no fan of black and literally counted the days between summers.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any of the following causes that Megan supported, in no particular order:

1. https://www.whitekissesgreatdanerescue.com/

2. https://seaturtleinc.org/

3. https://www.elephants.com/

4. https://issatrustfoundation.com/