Laray Ann Marburger Behrens passed away on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at her home in Sunset Valley, Texas at the age of 93. She was born in Hallettsville, Texas, in 1924, to Emil and Minnie Koch Marburger.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many. She was a life-long member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Austin. She enjoyed cooking, baking and taking care of her grandchildren. She spent many hours baking her famous cakes and pies for school and church functions. She was an amazing seamstress and created beautiful hand-made Christmas stockings for each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Laray was preceded in death by her parents Emil and Minnie Marburger, her brother Julius Marburger and his wife Inez, her sister Evelyn Rab and her husband Jimmy, and her brothers-in-law Pete Hagens and Dan Jirkovsky.
Laray is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Milton O. Behrens, her daughters: Elva Opiela and her husband Leroy, Sherral Coe and her husband Randy; her five grandchildren: Scott Opiela and his wife Kelly, Mark Opiela and his wife Stephanie, Heather Opiela and her boyfriend Travis Maas, Brian Coe and his wife Sarah, Justin Coe and his wife Lindsey; and, her eight great-grandchildren: Cameron, Kendall, and Morgan Opiela, Kylee, Lauren, Samantha, Presley and Austin Coe. She is also survived by her sisters Viola Hagens and Bernice Jirkovsky, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of Dell Seton Medical Center Intensive Care Unit as well as Dr. Mark Ambler, his nurse Jordan Kelly, and Dr. Vinh Nguyen, as well as the caregivers and staff of Bright Star Care. They would also like to extend a very special thank you to Lucia Dorantes for her extensive care, friendship and devotion to both Laray and Milton during the past several years.
Pallbearers include Randy Coe, Brian Coe, Justin Coe, Scott Opiela, Mark Opiela, and Heather Opiela.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday March 21, 2018, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with Visitation at 12:00 noon and Chapel Service at 1:00 pm with burial to follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
Mom, we will always carry your memory in our hearts.
“Walk with me to the water,
When it comes my time.
What we say won’t matter,
Just keep your hand in mine.
I’ll cross the water by myself,
I know that’s what I must do.
But the chilling sting won’t be felt,
Because I’ve walked with you.”
--- Nellie Keller ---
