Lillian Schaeffer Works

December 20, 1925 – April 13, 2018

Lillian's story is a life-long journey of adventure, which began in Chicago where she was born to Austria-Hungarian/Romanian immigrant parents, Frank Peter Schaeffer and Hedwig Pievitz Schaeffer.

Lillian and her older sister, Hattie, grew up in a Polish neighborhood; she loved all things Shirley Temple and had fond memories of summer trips to the Wisconsin lake country.

After high school graduation, Lillian attended secretarial school and went to work at Chicago's Federal Reserve Bank. The next chapter in her life journey began at a business sorority mixer where she met Lee Works, a Northwestern University medical student from Brownsville, TX.

They married in 1947, and the adventure continued when Lee and Lillian were posted by the USAF to England, with the charge of establishing a radiology department at Wroughton RAF Base. Lillian savored her time "across the pond", enjoying the opportunity to travel and immerse herself in different cultures. The couple's first child, Laura Lee, was born in Swindon in 1952.

The young family returned stateside via a treacherous north Atlantic winter crossing by troop ship. Lillian's life journey then took a southerly turn, as Lee agreed to join his father in radiology practice in Brownsville "for a few years". Lillian found herself at the US/Mexico border and established herself there as a loving wife, devoted mother, and committed community volunteer for over 50 years. The family first lived in a 1920's-era casita at Ebony Haven, the Works' homestead in Brownsville. Their middle child, a son, Leighton Thomas, was born in 1955. In 1957, they built their own home on the property, and in spring of that year, their second son, Lindsay Jon, was born.

Lillian established a legacy of adventure at Ebony Haven, hosting epic birthday parties with ponies and piñatas, and Scout meetings conducted in her high heels; monitoring go-kart races on the long driveway, mulberry picking, and chinaberry and dirt clod battles; collecting tadpoles and sailing ebony beans down the irrigation canal; and tending an assortment of yard puppies, Easter bunnies, chicks, ducklings, and beloved dachshunds. Summertime meant more adventures, with Lillian packing the footlockers for camp in the Texas Hill Country, or loading up the station wagon for road trips to both coasts,or the annual jaunt to Monterrey and Saltillo, Mexico, or just down the road to South Padre Island.

Somehow Lillian managed time for travel with Lee to state, national, and international medical meetings where they would reunite with lifelong professional colleagues. Serving the county medical auxiliary, the local hospital auxiliary, the Junior Service League, the nursing scholarship fund at Texas Southmost College, Lillian was well-known for providing creative and inspiring officer installation ceremonies for these organizations. Lee and Lillian loved to dine and dance as members of several social clubs, and Lillian was devoted to her "study club", women who met for lunch across the border in Matamoros for as long as it was safe to do so.

Widowed in 1997, Lillian continued to live at Ebony Haven until 2007, when she moved to Austin to live near her children, subsequently residing at Vista Oaks and the Harbor communities in Lakeway. During this part of her life journey, she loved attending the Gathering at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, and also Easter and Christmas Eve services, and her great-grandson's baptism there. Her favorite adventures became Sandy's Thursday special hamburgers; summer park concerts at the Long Center; painting; bingo; happy hours; watching football on TV and at Westlake High School; Dancing with the Stars; ordering shrimp at lunch bunch outings; and attending family weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and crawfish boils.

Everywhere she landed, Lillian put down roots and flourished. The rest of her story is one of reunion and redemption, as she now resides eternally at her Savior's side. We are grateful for her adventurous life, and especially for the loving and compassionate assistance given to her by caregivers to whom she would constantly say, "Thank you – good job!"

Lillian is predeceased by her parents, sister, and husband of nearly 50 years. She is survived by her children: Laurie (Sam Bennett), Leighton (Patti Hyland), and Lindsay (Renita); four grandchildren: Meredith, Cameron (Leslie), and Logan (Ashley) Bennett, and Taylor Works; and great-grandson Hayden Bennett.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 23, at 2 pm at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, 7127 Bee Cave Rd., Austin, TX 78746.

Those desiring to honor Lillian's memory may contribute to the Episcopal Day School Endowment Fund (34 N. Coria St., Brownsville, TX 78520) or First Presbyterian Church, where she was a member (435 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78520).