Cora M. Fuller

To the stars through difficulties

Cora Matilda Montgomery Fuller died Dec. 1, 2011. She was born Nov. 8, 1918, in Carthage, MO, to Charles Ray Montgomery and Sarah Edna Fadler.

After WWI, the family moved to Pittsburg, KS, where Cora and her three sisters went through public schools from Kindergarten through degrees from Kansas State Teachers’ College.

She taught English literature, speech, and physical education in Kincaid, Kiowa, and Caney, KS. She married Everett Wayne Fuller in 1943 in Clarksville, TN.

After WWII, the couple both taught in Kansas and Texas, coming to Austin, TX, in 1964 where she taught English and Latin at Travis and Reagan high schools and he was State Director of Vocational Office Education. She earned her master’s degree in the classics from the University of Texas at Austin. She retired from teaching in 1981. Her hobbies included reading, completing crossword puzzles, and gardening. A Longhorn at heart, she avidly followed UT sports.

She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church choir, United Methodist Women, and the YWCA. She was also active in Girl Scouts of America, American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, National Education Agency, Austin Teacher’s Association, Singing Noteables, Book Friends, and recording for the blind. She travelled extensively, including to locations in China, Scotland, Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, Mexico, and, with the Vergilian Society of Latin teachers, wherever Roman ruins could be found.

She is preceded in death by husband Everett Wayne Fuller; sisters Betty Jo Briley and Bonnie Lee Kungle; and great-grandson Carter Ward Lawrence.

She is survived by sister Mary Cooprider of Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter Mary Ann Fuller of Austin, TX; daughter Sara Fuller of Columbia, SC; daughter and son-in-law Virginia and Garland O’Quinn of Kerrville, TX; grandson and granddaughter-in-law Everett and Christine Fuller of Tidewater, OR; granddaughter Carie Lawrence of Austin, TX; grandson and granddaughter-in-law Samuel and Patricia Lawrence of Austin, TX; and great-grandchildren Howard Jonah Fuller, Faith Lawrence, Skyler Osborn, and Corwyn Fuller.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 2, 2012, at Austin Memorial Park. Arrangements by Cook-Walden Funeral Home in Austin.

May she rest in peace.

“Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

-- Albert Camus