Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Kilgore

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Kilgore passed away unexpectedly on May 31, 2024, after 79 years of living life to its fullest and making her mark on the world. She died in Abilene, Texas, her home for the past 36 years.

Mary Beth was born on September 1, 1944, in Victoria, Texas, to Napoleon B. “Bonny” and Marian Kornfuehrer Kilgore. The family had two older children, Whayland, 17, and Iris, 13, when their “little princess” was born. Sadly, Napoleon died six weeks later. Doting on this beautiful blonde baby helped distract the family from their grief.

A 1962 graduate of Victoria High School, Mary Beth shined as a twirler and majorette, and played the flute in the band. She attended Victoria College for two years and transferred in 1965 to Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. Mary Beth, ambitious by nature, worked her way through college and was determined to graduate. In May 1969, she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Sam Houston State University with a minor in photography. Years later, she earned a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from the University of Oklahoma.

A hard worker, she bought her own college graduation gift—a 1968 green Pontiac LeMans convertible. “Geraldine” was her pride and joy and she vowed to never part with that car. Although she owned other vehicles throughout the years, Geraldine was still in Mary Beth’s garage when she passed away.

After college, she moved to Houston and worked in public relations and other challenging jobs until she joined the Air Force in September 1972. She entered with the rank of Lieutenant and after 20 years as a public information officer, she retired in 1992 as a Major.

South Korea was one of her earliest tours of duty. She traveled throughout Asia while stationed there. Her stateside assignments included Air Force bases in Louisiana, North Dakota, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma.

In 1988, she transferred to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, where she was named Chief of Public Affairs for the 96th Bomb Wing. It was her final assignment. She remained in Abilene after retirement and went on to spend 18 years as the public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation’s Abilene District.

As a military representative and then a civilian, Mary Beth engrained herself in the Abilene community. Leadership Abilene, Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Keep Abilene Beautiful, America Cancer Society, United Way, Abilene Federal Housing Authority, Abilene State School Citizens Advisory Committee and the Hardin-Simmons University Media Advisory Board were among the organizations she served. She was on the boards of most of these groups. In addition, she was vice president of communications for the Air Force Association.

Of all her activities, her greatest passion was the Rotary Club of Abilene. She joined the organization in 1989 and became one of its most devoted members. She volunteered as executive secretary from September 2010 to September 2023 and oversaw the service club’s administrative duties.

Mary Beth was preceded in death by her father Napoleon B. Kilgore; her mother, Marian Kornfuehrer Kilgore Zacek; stepfather, Benedict “Ben” Zacek; sister, Iris Kilgore McCracken; brother-in-law, J.C. “Red” McCracken; brother, Whayland Kilgore; sister-in-law, Dolores Kainer Kilgore; nieces Bonny Lynn McCracken Malik and Blandine Dorsett; and nephews John and Joseph Kilgore.

She is survived by her beloved McCracken nieces Lynn Miller, Carol Barton, Rhonda Coffey, Cecile Pfeiffer, Toscana Gohlke and Jocelyn Paris; and nephew, Cecil McCracken; in addition to her Kilgore nieces Mary Coughran, Dianne Blalock, Denise Jolly, Eileen Bullock, Patrice Stanford and Ida Sebera; and nephews Thomas, Daniel, Patrick and Wayne Kilgore.

She also leaves behind other “families”—her military and Rotary families, and her family of lifelong college friends she made at Sam Houston.

Mary Beth is remembered as a beautiful, vivacious and determined woman who never met a stranger. She accomplished everything she set out to do, including meeting Elvis Presley. Once she made up her mind to do something, there was no stopping her. She traveled the world, was an avid snow skier and loved to fish. She surrounded herself with books and chose reading over watching television.

Of all her passions, saving animals was her top priority. She traveled with bags of dog and cat food in case she saw a hungry stray and often took lost animals to local rescue shelters. On one road trip to visit friends, Mary Beth picked up a stray dog along the road, continued her travels, then brought him home with her to keep. She had a special fondness for Irish Setters and raised four of them. She loved all breeds and didn’t hesitate to add a “mutt” to her menagerie of cats and dogs.

Friends can honor Mary Beth’s memory by donating to a local animal shelter or rescue organization.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation from two o’clock until three o'clock in the afternoon at Rosewood Funeral Chapel on the 27thof July 2024. A celebration of Mary Beth's life is to commence at three o'clock with the service to conclude at four o'clock with the Victoria Veteran's Council to perform full military honors.