Maurice Stephenson Orr

Maurice Stephenson Orr Maurice Orr died peacefully at his home near Kyle, Texas, this past Sunday evening. Maurice made full use of his nearly 94 years of life as a naval officer, an all-American football player, football coach, ready-mix concrete salesman, deacon, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He touched all who knew him and was as gentle in spirit as he was strong in character. He was the centerpiece of his family who feels very lucky to have shared their lives with him. Maurice was born on November 11, 1913, in Hillsboro, Texas, to John Orr and Margie Stephenson Orr. He was the younger of two children, having one sister, Emma Frank. He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on a football scholarship where he helped to lead the first team from the State of Texas to the Rose Bowl in 1936. He coached football and taught history, and while teaching at Seymour High School met and fell in love with the homemaking teacher, Mary Ruth Reeves. They soon married in her hometown, Mexia, Texas on August 5, 1939. Their first and only child, John Mac Orr, was born in 1943 while Maurice was working as a naval officer in Maryland. Maurice worked as a sales manager in the ready-mix concrete business in Dallas for some 30 years. He was active in the Park Cities Baptist Church. He and his wife retired to Austin, Texas to be with son John and his family. He moved his letter to First Baptist Church in 1984 where he served as a deacon and was a member and president of the Zollie Steakley Men’s Bible Class. He was a very active grandfather, getting on airplanes in his 80’s to visit Atlanta, San Francisco, Winston-Salem, and even Venice, Italy. He attended every Hays football game during his grandson’s senior year. The family especially wants to thank the caretakers who gave such amazing care to Maurice during the last years of his life: Gale Nelezen, Lisa Wharton, Treda Hill, Raul Villaseñor and Sylvia Narvaiz. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity, with a luncheon to follow. Pallbearers are Frank Boyd, Clif Drummond, Hugh Poindexter, Tom Searcy, Mike Spain, and Margianna Wissinger. Honorary Pallbearers are Carol Hardaway, Judge Jack Hightower, and Otis Nelle. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 2, 2007 at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law John and Janie Orr, granddaughter Allison Orr and husband Blake Trabulsi, granddaughter Jennifer Orr and husband Matt Reilly, grandson Robert Orr, and great granddaughter Genevieve Trabulsi-Orr. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to First Baptist Church Austin or the charity of your choice. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com