Iru Elizabeth Haynes Zeller

Iru was born in Glidden, Texas, a tiny railroad community, to Sophia and Ernest Haynes, who was an engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad. They soon moved to San Antonio where she lived up until the past eight years. Iru graduated from Brackenridge High School and worked for a short while as a legal secretary.

In 1938, she married Perry Zeller, and following WWII they started a family. She loved her role as a wife and mother and was selfless in both roles, always putting her family first. In later years, her unselfish ways and boundless love extended to spouses, grandchildren, and a great-grandson. She felt greatly honored when he was given her maiden name.

As a homemaker, Iru was perfectly fastidious and everything was always neat as a pin. She enjoyed entertaining and sharing her home, and guests were always welcomed with a home-cooked meal and treated to a special dessert.

Iru also took great pride in her yard in which she spent innumerable hours beautifying. When she and Perry decided to build a home, a wooded lot was chosen, and rather than cutting down any trees, the architect was challenged to design the house among them. Because of her love of nature, numerous bird feeders were hung in the trees, and bird baths (scrubbed daily - again her fastidious nature) were scattered throughout the yard.

Iru enjoyed traveling, but only if the mode of transportation remained in contact with the ground - flying was NOT an option - thus she and Perry traveled extensively throughout the United States and Mexico.

As a lover of the arts, she was artistic in her own right, taking up oil painting and creating beautiful wall-hanging stitcheries.

As a descendant of the earliest settlers in the United States and Texas, Iru was proud of her ancestry and remained a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 53 years and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for 30 years.

Her roots ran deep in Burnet where both sides of her family, Olney and Haynes, have lived for several generations. She spent most of her childhood summers with her beloved first cousin LaVerne, a sisterly bond which lasted a lifetime. Though Iru lived in the city, she was a country girl at heart. She led a simple life with simple desires and wishes.

Her humble background helped define who she was - a caring and compassionate woman always accepting of and reaching out to others no matter what their color or creed. Throughout her lifetime, countless notes of encouragement, praise, sage advice, and thanks were sent to family, friends and acquaintances.

A woman of deep faith, Iru ministered to those less fortunate through her service at Central Christian Church where she was a member for over 65 years and also through her volunteer work at Christian Assistance Ministries for many, many years.

To be near family, Iru moved to Dallas in 2005 where she lived in a retirement home and was a much beloved resident by all she encountered. She became known for her sense of humor, teasing manner, spunk, and love of dancing. Iru took great pride in the fact that she was for the most part independent up until the last month.

Heartfelt thanks go to the staff of Monticello West for their caring ways, to Pat Potter and everyone at Win Lee Beauty Salon for weekly visits to the "miracle parlor", to Janette's angelic ladies for their companionship these past two years - what a gift you have been, and to Marty Ruiz who brought the joy of music and dance over the past eight years, serenading Iru in her room the day before she passed away, allowing her to sway to a Latin rhythm one last time in her recliner.

A lady to the end, Iru never left her room without a pair of earrings, a dab of perfume, lipstick on, and an Edith Collins handbag on her arm.

A mother to the end, she pushed her daughter out the door to get her home before dark and fussed at her son to cut his hair and shave his beard.

Happy to the end, saying all she lacked was her Perry, Iru serves as a role model for aging gracefully and life itself. Memories of her sweet spirit will be cherished, and she will remain in our hearts forever.

Iru is preceded in death by her aforementioned parents and husband.

She is survived by her son Charles Zeller and wife Sylvia, their children Maury, and Sophia and husband Landon Langley; and by her daughter Iru "Beth" Morrison and husband Louis, their sons Christopher Haynes Morrison and wife Sarah, and their son Haynes, and Kyle Morrison.

CELEBRATION OF IRU'S LIFE

WEDNESDAY

AUGUST 7, 2013

10:30 AM

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

720 NORTH MAIN

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78205

Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Burnet Cemetery; 900 S. Rhomberg; Burnet, Texas 78611

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Central Christian Church; Christian Assistance Ministry; 110 McCullough Avenue; San Antonio, TX 78215; or to the charity of your choice.