Ethlyn Rose Freytag Fairey

Ethlyn Rose Marie Freytag Fairey was born September 6, 1932 in Shiner, Texas to Mary (Hoepfl) and Rudolf Freytag. She grew up on a picturesque farm in Moulton, Texas and she started her education in a one-room school house just down the road from home. Her first language was German, and she didn’t learn English until she started school. She dreamed of going to college, especially because she loathed toiling in the cotton fields; so, she studied and persevered, and in 1954 she became a proud graduate of The University of Texas with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. She was the first in her family to graduate from college. She then went on to work as a legal secretary at Humble Oil and Refinery (later known as Exxon). It was there that she met her future husband, Robert Fairey, an attorney in the Law Department there. After 5 years, when he could, “properly pronounce” her last name, she said, “yes”, and they married and set up house in Houston.

Ethlyn was a devoted wife and mother, and when their only child, Marianne, was young, Ethlyn gave up her career to spend time with her daughter and help out at Marianne’s school. When her husband decided to open his own law practice, she then became his right hand running his law firm. Her devotion to him became a full time job only a few years later, after he suffered a debilitating stroke; she was only 51. She was the consummate loving partner, and cared for him the remainder of her life.

Ethlyn loved traveling, but didn’t find out until she was in her 70s. She jumped at the chance to see the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and the lands of her ancestors (Austria and the Czech Republic) – and reveled in all of it. Her daughter thought she was the best travelling buddy, and they made every trip they took into a great adventure.

Her greatest loves in her older years were her grandchildren – Rory, John, and Lucy O’Dwyer. She was enthralled and mystified with “Rorinko’s” deep musings about the Universe; she and “Dynomite” shared a love of the countryside, meeting new people, and she followed his every attempt at a new sport. She and “Lucita” were always finding new movies or sports to watch together – even watching (dare it be written?!) Aggie football together, while indulging in her favorite naughty snack – Lays potato chips!

Ethlyn never met a stranger, and people fell in love with her within minutes of meeting her. Even at the age of 90, she made a new friend with her physical therapist, who cried the day she “graduated” from his care (she really loved his “dancing therapy”!). The last few years of her life, she spent a lot of time in the company of her husband’s caregivers – and they became some of the dearest friends of her life. She would say that Deborah and Consetta were family to her.

Ethlyn passed away after a 4 day illness on December 13, 2022 at The Houston Methodist Hospital. She was a force of life, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Robert Fairey, and her daughter Marianne Fairey, son-in-law Joseph O’Dwyer, and grandchildren Rory, John, and Lucy.

A mass of christian burial for Ethlyn will be held Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:00 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas. Following the mass of christian burial will be a rite of committal at 3:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 601 N. Pecan Street, Moulton, Texas 77975.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Fairey family.