Marie Iona Brown Miser

Born to Robert and Florence Brown on January 1, 1930 in Waurika, Oklahoma, Marie attended elementary and high school in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Growing up in 4-H club, Marie excelled in designing and sewing fashionable clothing, winning many awards. She was also an award winning cook. As a young girl she designed shoe box houses, a portend to her flair for interior design.

A schoolmate’s brother, newly returned from the Pacific and Japan, stole her heart. H T Miser, or “Hank” as she called him, asked her to marry him on their 2nd date. She finally agreed and they were married 4 months later, April 19, 1947. Hank whisked her away to the oil patches of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, where they traded their furniture for a Spartan trailer. Marie always returned to Chickasha so the babies could be born in Oklahoma. Before long the Miser’s were a family of 6 living in a Spartan travel trailer, pulled by a blue Dodge, following a “doodlebug” seismograph crew from town to town. During these years, Marie mastered economy of space and her ability to create beauty in some of the most barren, dustiest portions of our state. Finally, in Midland, Hank traded the trailer for some furniture and rented a house in Midland, which he says had less room than the trailer. The free-range Miser children enjoyed exploring and creating their own stories, attending various schools and churches in their early years. Their adventures took them to Dallas and to Irving with a brief stay at the Ritz Motel in Dickinson in a room with a pool! Hank traveled extensively during these early years while Marie carefully reminded the children of his presence as she “single-parented.” The Misers settled in the Westbury community in Houston in 1959. She and Hank designed, built, decorated and furnished several homes in Westbury. In the early 1970’s they created their current home in Missouri City, together.

A gifted designer and seamstress, Marie created fashions for five fashion shows at Foley’s Downtown Houston. For several years she worked in interior design at Two Designers Studio in Montrose. As the children grew and left home, she traveled across the United States and around the world with her husband, selecting furniture and accessories to adorn her own home and those of many others. Few of her friends and family members can stand in a room in their own homes today without seeing Marie’s gift for color, beauty, balance and order.

An elegant Southern Lady in all respects, Marie dressed impeccably at all times. She read insatiably and loved biographies, and historical novels. She never stopped learning and always stayed current in fashion trends, color, and design innovations. Marie loved plants and flowers. Her Garden Club friends were like sisters to her. She encouraged others to present their best selves at all times and to create beautiful surroundings at home and at work.

Charter members of Westbury Baptist Church, Hank and Marie served as Deacon and wife. Marie loved babies and often volunteered in the church nursery. She was active in Woman’s Missionary Union and regularly attended Sunday School and all the worship services of the church for many years. Marie and her friends decorated the building for special events, weddings, receptions, and holidays and Marie offered her interior design gifts to decorate and furnish various rooms in the church buildings. Marie and Hank actively supported youth ministries, missions activities, the various building programs and were dear friends of many pastors and staff members and their families throughout the years.

Marie is survived by her husband and best friend, H T Miser; her sister, Sue Waldron and her husband Dale; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Brown; her children, Don Mark Miser and wife June, Donna Marie Asbill, Robert Vincent Miser and wife Peggy, and Rebecca Jane Parkman and husband Larry; 13 grandchildren, Dawn Elizabeth Greiner and husband Michael, William Todd Anderson and wife Monique, Virginia Marie Peach and husband David, Allison Jane Atlas and husband Michael, Lauren Hayward and husband David, Mark Miser and wife Judi, James Scott Parkman and wife Lisa, Amy Catherine Sweet and husband Wes, Grant Parkman and wife Amy, Anne-Marie Kapoor and husband Ravi, Matthew Thomas Miser and wife Melissa, Rebecca Carol Miser and spouse Madelyn, and Timothy Christopher Miser; and 25 great-grandchildren, David Glen Hugh Hayward, Kristen Ann Hayward, Colton Robert Peach, Kyle Andrew Peach, Caleb Lane Peach, Brenna Avery Atlas, Ian Michael Atlas, Henry Thomas Miser, Molly Lynn Miser, Rowan Mark Miser, Sophia Emory Anderson, William Anderson, Ella Kate Sweet, Molly Claire Sweet, Ruby Grace Sweet, Jacob Stanley Parkman, Adison Elizabeth Miser, Arjun Paul Kapoor, Ashwin James Kapoor, Amari Elizabeth Kapoor, Violet May Miser, Ava Pearl Miser, Ari James Salter-Miser, and Asher Malone Salter-Miser.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit). A Memorial Celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Westbury Baptist Church, 10425 Hillcroft St., Houston, 77096. A private graveside service will be held prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Westbury Baptist Church Youth Missions Fund, or to the American Heart Association to fund research for the prevention of vascular dementia.

Pallbearers:

Todd Anderson

James Parkman

Grant Parkman

Matthew Miser

Timothy Miser

David Hayward

David GH Hayward

Mark Miser