Marie Witte Cory

Marie Witte Cory, died Tuesday, September 13th at the age of 88, in Midland where she was temporarily residing near her daughter Mary Beth. She had been a resident of Austin for over 40 years. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Richard “Dick” Cory to whom she had been married 65 years. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Beth Kenworthy of Odessa, Texas; daughter Susan Cory and husband Jim Builta of Austin, Texas; three grandchildren, Cory Canon and husband Christopher of Houston, Texas; Paula Kenworthy of Washington, D.C.; Craig Kenworthy of Lubbock, Texas; sweet great-granddaughter Caroline Canon; dear friend Msgr. Eustace A. Hermes of Victoria, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her dear sister Lynette Franklin of Victoria earlier this year, and also by her brother Patrick Witte of Victoria. Marie was born May 4, 1923 in Victoria, Texas, to Annie and Henry Witte and lived there until 1970, when she and her husband moved to Austin. They had previously been part-time Austin residents while he served in the Texas Legislature for 16 years representing Victoria and Calhoun Counties.

Mrs. Cory was instrumental in organizing the Legislative Ladies Club of the Texas House of Representatives, served as its President in 1957, and remained active in it until recent years. She worked tirelessly in many of its projects, including the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Texas Governor’s Mansion, which she and Dick sponsored and organized for many years. She was a hostess for many social functions while he was serving in the legislature and afterwards while he worked as a lobbyist in Austin and Washington. She befriended and mentored many new legislative wives and welcomed them to her home for weekly luncheons and needle-pointing get-togethers. She was President of “Save the Children” and recipient of an Outstanding Citizenship Award. She was active in the Catholic Church community in Victoria and Austin. She and her husband especially enjoyed hosting numerous large parties and family picnics, and traveled extensively over the years. She also liked spending time in Ruidoso, New Mexico with friends and family, where she enjoyed picnics, and watching the numerous hummingbirds and bears.

The family will receive friends at the Cook-Walden Funeral Home on North Lamar from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Thursday, September 15th with recitation of the Holy Rosary to begin at seven o’clock. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa Catholic Church at half past one o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, September 16th followed by burial at the Texas State Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Theresa’s Church of Austin, the Texas Governor’s Mansion Restoration, or the Austin Meals on Wheels program.

Tributes may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com