Margaret J. Dornheim

Margaret Jean McConaghey Dornheim, adoring wife, mother, doting grandmother and great-grandmother, consummate real estate professional, golfer, and devoted friend, died on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. Margaret was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1934 to Wallace Clyde and Margaret Toms McConaghey. Later the family moved to the Chicago area, where Margaret went to high school and college, and met her husband-to-be, Fred Dornheim. They married in 1960, and soon moved to New York for five years, followed by six years in the Houston area and several cross-country moves. Margaret and Fred spent five years in Anchorage, Alaska, where she became involved in the Opera Guild and in cooking, combining the two interests to create a hugely successful Anchorage Opera Guild Cookbook while serving on the Board. When Fred took early retirement from ARCO, they packed up again and moved to Austin in 1985 – pretty much sight unseen – to enjoy the mild winters and beautiful scenery. They first lived in the Estates of Barton Creek, where Margaret was elected to the Board of Directors of Barton Creek Country Club, was president of the Women’s Golf Association, and was very active in the community. Margaret took a few real estate classes with Fred while he was studying for his real estate license, and decided she wanted to become a realtor, too. She concentrated on high-end properties and listed and sold many properties in the Estates of Barton Creek and in other exclusive communities and became a charter member of the Elite 25 – the top 25 realtors in Austin. Margaret and Fred moved to Barton Creek Lakeside in 1996, where she continued her real estate career, but also traveled with Fred to China, the Middle East, the Baltics, the Mediterranean, Russia, and many other exotic destinations.

Margaret is survived by Fred Dornheim, her husband of 51 years; her brother, Wallace McConaghey of Largo, Florida; two children, John Dornheim of Mesquite, Texas and his partner Rick Moore, and Jean Dornheim Louis of Austin and her husband, Mark Louis. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Robbie Louis, Harrison Louis and Chris Louis, all of Austin; Eric Louis and wife, Jonessa of Utah; Jennifer Ruthesell and husband, Kevin of Weatherford, Texas; Felicia Bratcher and husband Victor of Ft Worth, and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas on Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A memorial service will be held at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 13, 2011.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).