Meta Louise Mogford Talley

Meta was born on June 29,1935 in San Antonio, Texas to Clarence William Mogford and Ella Anna Walter Mogford of Uvalde, Texas. She had one older sister, Caroline Mogford Whited, whom she loved dearly and especially loved shooting hoops with!

She attended Uvalde High School where she played basketball, tennis and softball. During this time, she met the love of her life, Bill Ed Talley, who would later become her husband of 62 years. They enjoyed playing and watching sports and they loved dancing! They would drive to the Garner State Park dances to the outdoor pavilion on Saturdays to dance under the stars!

After High School, Meta attended the University of Texas in Austin. She joined the Delta Zeta Sorority because the group of girls she had met there were all interested in sports like she was! At the time, the Women’s Intramural Sports Program was formed around sororities, and she was a participant from 1953-1957. She led her Sorority to championships in touch football, softball, basketball and swimming. She was also a champion in badminton and deck tennis. Meta graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

She went on to teach and coach at Falfurrias High School for 33 years! During her time as a Fighting Jersey, she sponsored the cheerleaders, the Lariettes, and coached girls’ volleyball, basketball, track and tennis. She taught Physical Education and Health classes as well. She believed in continuing education, so she attended Coaching School and Clinics faithfully every summer. Coach Talley truly loved her students and wanted them all to be successful in whatever they were most interested in! The Talley’s attended many other sporting events at FHS, at the University of Texas and at the out-of-town events of their grandchildren! We believe that she may have coached and attended over 3,000 games in her lifetime!

The Talley’s were season ticket holders at UT for the football and baseball teams for 50 years. If you ever visited their home, there was no doubt about their loyal support for the Texas Longhorns starting with the burnt orange mailbox to the Texas flags, rugs, mugs and other Longhorn paraphernalia that garnished the living area! Their closets were full of Falfurrias Jersey green and the Texas Longhorn burnt orange.

When Meta retired from teaching and coaching, the mayor of Falfurrias declared the day as “Meta Talley day!” In 2022, the Fal Belles Volleyball Team honored her for her long coaching career. In 2023, Meta was inducted into the University of Texas Recreational/Intramural Sports Hall of Honor for her participation and contribution to girls’ sports! She was chosen for having a profound impact on the organization and the values it promotes!

The Talley’s were faithful members of the First Methodist Church for almost 60 years. They loved serving God, the church and the community! During her retirement years, you could find Meta cleaning up around the church, running copies of the Sunday bulletin, attending Bible Study or on many days “just checking on the church” as she would say.

It is oh so hard to say goodbye for now, but we will rejoice in Heaven with Jesus when we meet again! Meta is survived by her only child, Lori Lea Talley Corse and her husband, George Corse, her granddaughter, Kelly Louise Strickland (husband, Tyler) and great grandchildren, Graham and Abigail Louise of Pearland, Tx, and her grandson, Brian Robert Scott (wife, Pat) of Katy, Tx. She also has step/bonus grandchildren Kayley Raley (husband, Bradley), Lindsay Armstrong (husband, Charlie) and Noah Corse (wife, Hayley) and their children.

A Celebration of her Life will be held on Friday, July 11 at 10:30am at the First Methodist Church in Falfurrias. She believed it should be a happy occasion and said she would love to see people dressed in green or burnt orange! Feel free to wear those Jersey or Longhorn T-shirts!

In lieu of flowers, if you like, you can make a donation to the First Methodist Church of Falfurrias.

God be with you…..Go Fighting Jerseys…..Hook ‘Em Horns!