Willie Mae Garner

Our beloved mother went to be with the Lord. Willie Mae Garner “Bobbie”, age 97, of Austin passed away on Monday, January 10, 2005. She was born October 14, 1907 in Dripping Springs, Texas to William Marshall Perry and Laura Tabitha Harman Perry. Willie graduated from Andice High School on May 7, 1926 and went on to San Marcos Teachers College in San Marcos, Texas. There she met her sweetheart and soul mate, Raymond Luke Garner. They were married in Hillsboro, Texas on August 25, 1928. They remained sweethearts until God called Ray home in March 1981. They were married for 53 years. Together they raised 8 children, 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren. Willie spent most of her life as a loving housewife, mother and granny. She then went to work in the baby nursery at St. David’s Hospital and private nurse to many in Austin, including many years as a private duty nurse to Miss Mamie Dale Barrow before she retired. She loved to go fishing at the lake. Willie, her husband and beloved sister, Dona Cunningham, loved to spend the weekends in the boat house at her daughter’s house. After the loss of her husband, Willie and her sister came to the dock to fish and play cards for as long as they could. Willie also loved hunting with her grandsons. When she wanted to go hunting, she would call one of them up and they came running. She said she couldn’t get her grandchildren to bring her any venison so she got her own. She loved to tease them about being a better hunter and a better shot than they…”and she was”. She always got her deer and turkey. Willie was a longtime member of Hyde Park Baptist Church. Besides her Lord, the closest thing to her heart was her family. She leaves behind many loved ones. She thrived on being a loving mother, granny and great granny. Willie was preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents, three brothers, Willis Mayfield Perry, Herman Paul Perry, and Jesse C. Perry, sisters, Dollie Perry, Bytha Nixie Perry and Dona Leon Cunningham, and three children, Raymond W. Garner of Houston, Mildred Elizabeth Holm of Lynwood, California, and Barbara Mae Geaccone of Houston. She is survived by two sons, R. L. Garner and wife Theresa of Liberty Hill and Lester Ervin Garner and wife Carolyn of Cedar Park; three daughters, Mary Blanche Johnson of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Frances Bratton and husband John of Lake Travis Volente, and Betty Ruth Senkel of Austin; 52 grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends. Willie will be remembered as a kind, gentle Christian spirit and those of us left behind will have many fond memories and she will be missed by all. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2005 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Dan Gardner officiating. Burial will follow at IOOF Cemetery in Georgetown. Honoring her as pallbearers will be Lester E. Garner Jr., Raymond Garner, Skipper Lankford Jr., Clarence Senkel, Donald Ray Geaccone, Eddie Manning, Chris Lee Bratton and Ronny Senkel. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Hospice Austin and Sagebrook Health Care Center for the kindness and gentle care extended to our mother. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com