Elisabeth Dagmar King-cremer

Elisabeth Dagmar King-Cremer died peacefully at her home in Austin February 23, 2007 surrounded by her children. We will miss her love, gentle spirit and great sense of beauty. Dagmar was preceded in death by her husband Mayo King, her parents Sasha and Theo Cremer and her brother Herbert. Dagmar’s love of family and close friends was at the core of her life and provided the sense of joy that was shared by loyal friends and family members, who include her son Nicolas Russell, his wife Lia; her daughter Vanessa Rachmaninoff and husband Jean Pierre; daughter Sasha Russell-Ashmun and husband John: and grandchildren Teddy and Jamie Russell, Nicholas, Christian and Victoria Rachmaninoff; and Anouk Russell-Goreta and Alexander Ashmun: her sister Thelma Sherrer; and stepchildren Robin King and Sandy King Lankford. Dagmar was born in Amsterdam, Holland May 19, 1929 the eldest grand-daughter of Jacob Theodor Cremer, who was the Dutch Ambassador to the United States. Her idyllic childhood was forever altered by the approaching storm of World War II. Showing the foresight that often distinguished her father Theo in business and world affairs Theo made the decision to send the family to Indonesia as WWII approached and then on to the United States shortly before the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. The family settled in Darien, Ct. through the war years and eventually moved to Mt. Kisco, NY and later becoming US citizens. Dagmar attended Foxcroft School and Briarcliff College. In 1948 she married Charles Russell. Her second marriage was to William Shaw with whom she lived in Argentina and Cold Spring Harbor, New York. In 1980 Dagmar married Mayo King and moved to Austin, Texas. While in Austin, Dagmar opened her antique shop Bloemen to which she brought her extensive knowledge of antiques, sense of style and business talent. Dagmar will be remembered for her extraordinary beauty, her devotion to her family, the great loyalty of her friends and her generous spirit. She deeply loved Holland and enjoyed walking in the dunes near the North Sea home where she spent her childhood and often returned throughout her life. Her family wishes to extend deep thanks to Gaudalupe Pena, who cared for Dagmar for the past seven years, as well as Rosalonda De La Pena and Noelia Hernandez. The family also wishes to acknowledge the services of Vista Care Hospice. There will be a memorial service at 10AM Monday February 26 at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The funeral service will be held at Saint Mathews Church, in Bedford Village, NY March 4. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Good Shepherd Church or Vista Care Hospice. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com