Margaret S. Rodgers

Margaret Sheppard Schirmer Rodgers passed peacefully from this life at the age of 97 on August 5, 2010. She was born on March 27, 1913, to Sarah Caroline “Carrie” Wiley and Harry Carr Schirmer and was the youngest of their eight children.

She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Sarah Caroline Hammersmith, Anna Gilliland Vilbig, Amelia Prevost Brown, Mary Margaret Schirmer, Elzey Thompson Colvin, Louise Carr Breedlove, and Harry Carr Schirmer, Jr. She was also preceded in death in 1989 by her husband of forty-nine years, George H. “Buddy” Rodgers.

Margaret was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where she attended San Jacinto High School. She also attended St. Mary's Episcopal High School in Ft. Worth and a business school in Houston. Later she worked for Humble Oil Company. In 1940, Margaret married her high school sweetheart and rancher, Buddy Rodgers, and moved to his home on the Sunset Ranch which is located near Leander. She always described herself as a “pioneer” during those early ranching years. At that time, there was no electricity in the area so a windmill supplied the water and a Delco generator supplied some power. In 1947, the family moved to Austin but continued to enjoy summers and holidays at the ranch.

As her three children were growing up, Margaret was involved as a leader in the Girl Scouts at St. Austin's School and was an active member of the Ladies of Charity. She and Buddy had a large and wonderful group of lifetime friends called “the bridge group” with whom they met at least once a week to play cards or just to get the families together.

In 1970, Margaret and Buddy built another home at the ranch located on Cow Creek's arm of Lake Travis, and it was the site of many happy gatherings for family and friends. Margaret played golf and bridge, enjoyed travel, and spent the summers in Ruidoso. She also helped to form the Lago Vista Associates of the Seton Development Board. In 1991, she moved back into Austin.

Margaret is survived by her three daughters and their husbands: Genevieve Wiley and Richard H. Kercheville, Janan Margaret and William H. Moses, and Georgann and Stanley D. Kiefer. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Hollie Elise Worley, Brent Rodgers Kercheville, Jennifer Ann Parsons, Jessica Janan Todd, Brandon Stuart Kiefer, and Nicole Margaret Stout. She was delighted to be the great grandmother of fifteen. Margaret treasured her family and friends.

The family expresses thanks to her caregivers, Maria Herrera, Marisabel Martinez, and Christina Ramos, the staff of Heartland Assisted Living, and her physician, Dr. James Merryman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in her memory to the Ladies of Charity,

P.O. Box 9566, Austin, TX 78766, the Seton Fund at P.O. Box 4416, Lago Vista, TX 78645, or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service celebrating Margaret's long and well-lived life will be held at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church at 6100 Lohman Ford Rd., Lago Vista, Texas, on Friday, August 13, at 2:00 P.M.