Eileen Kaiser Stiba Howard

Eileen Kaiser Howard passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, June 20, 2010 in Austin, Texas. Eileen had made her home at Parmer Woods for the past four and a half years, where the staff loved her and gave her a wonderful place to live for the last years of her life.

Eileen was born March 25, 1929, at the family home in Rice’s Crossing near the banks of Brushy Creek. She was the fifth of six children born to Bridget and George Stiba, Sr. Eileen had treasured memories and colorful stories to tell about growing up in the country with her brother, sisters and cousins.

Eileen graduated from Taylor High School in 1946 and married Gaylon Kaiser in October of that year. By 1947, Gaylon and Eileen owned and operated K&E Grocery and Market on Ferguson Street and had their first child, Gail. Their son, Greg, was born in 1950. Eileen and Gaylon worked long hours establishing the business and the young family lived in an apartment above the store, until 1957 when they moved to a home on Kimbro Street in Taylor. The following year their third child, Ginger, was born.

After Ginger’s birth, Eileen continued an active role in the business, but no longer worked daily. That changed, however, in October of 1961 when duty called both Gaylon and Eileen. Gaylon, a captain in the Army National Guard activated with the 49th Armored Division during the Berlin Crisis, spent a year at Fort Polk in Louisiana. Eileen’s call to duty was full time responsibility for running the grocery store, as well as rearing their three children.

Upon Gaylon’s return from Louisiana, life w ent back to normal for a number of years. During that time Eileen especially looked forward to renting a beach house on the Texas coast each summer with special friends and family. Eileen loved playing games, cards and dominoes, and especially looked forward to Study Club and Dance Club activities. By the time Eileen and Gaylon celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 1971, it was clear that Gaylon was not well. Eileen, once again, took on full responsibility for running K&E until about a year after Gaylon succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in August, 1974. The family were members of the First Methodist Church, just up the street from their home, and the staff and members loved and supported her during Gaylon’s illness.

In 1984, Eileen and her daughter, Ginger, became partners in a new venture. They purchased the Miller home on Seventh Street and opened a day care center, Grandma’s House, at that location. Eileen worked with Ginger in the business for a few years and then decided to pursue her dream of doing something on her own. She became a House Mother for Delta Delta Delta Sorority at UT, Austin, where she worked until 1992. Eileen loved people, socializing and entertaining, so she enjoyed every moment with the Tri Delta girls.

In December of 1995 Eileen met Pat Howard, a retired Air Force colonel, on a blind date. They had much in common, and married shortly thereafter. For a number of years they enjoyed each other’s company and traveled throughout the United States, as well as to the Caribbean and Canada. When Pat and Eileen were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, they were able to live together at Parmer Woods, until shortly before Pat passed away in August, 2007.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, as well as by her sisters, Eleanor and Anne Stiba in August, 1940, and Marjorie Weber in November, 2004. She is survived by her sister, Helen Polzin, of Coupland; her brother, George Stiba, of Houston; as well as her children, son, Greg Kaiser of Georgetown; daughters and sons- in- law, Ginger and Rex Schneider of Taylor; Gail and Ron Pierce of Citrus Heights, California; and grandchildren, Autumn and Spencer Schneider of Taylor; Nicole and Bryan Hill of San Diego, California.

A joyful celebration of Eileen’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at Condra Funeral Home with burial to follow at Taylor City Cemetery. Visitation will also be at Condra Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00.

Arrangements under the direction of Condra Funeral Home, Taylor, TX.