Chede was born on September 23rd in Hartshorne, Oklahoma to John and Juanita Sabala. She was the tenth of 13 spirited children. Chede graduated from Hartshorne High School in 1957, where she served as president of her senior class. After graduation, she moved to Tulsa and worked in the office of the US Army Corps of Engineers, where she met Fred, her lifelong love. They were married on August 19, 1961 at First Christian Church. Their first daughter Camy soon followed. Fred moved to Austin to attend UT Law School, and Chede and Camy joined him. The new family fell in love with Austin and their love affair with the city kept them here. The family grew in 1968 with the birth of Cachele and again in 1975 with the birth of Chendrith. Chede worked for the IRS for 35 years and ultimately retired from the federal government. During this same time Chede was a dynamic force in the lives of her family, siblings, church, and hundreds of friends.
After retirement, Chede focused on community service and being an active and involved grandmother for her seven grandchildren. She worked with the Day Lily Society and weeded and maintained flowerbeds at the Zilker Botanical Garden. She enjoyed working in the yard, tending to her flowerbeds, and cultivating her garden. Chede was also an accomplished seamstress and quilter. She made clothes and costumes for her three daughters and altered and mended clothes for countless others.
Chede was an active and dedicated member of Hyde Park Christian Church for 55 years. She found a way to minister while being a vital church member. Chede served in many capacities including, being a deaconess, a Stephen’s Minister, a CWF member, and a member of the sewing group who called themselves the Sew-n-Sews. She helped to cater and participated in Vacation Bible School and numerous bridal and baby showers.
Chede was an avid golfer, frequenting the links throughout Austin and Central Texas several times per week. The highlight of her golfing was accomplishing two holes-in-one after the age of 65. She taught most of her grandchildren to play golf and tennis, giving them individual instruction, enrolling them in clinics and paying for lessons. While she herself could not swim, she made it her mission to see that every grandchild could swim at an early age. Her focus extended beyond sports for her grandchildren, and she wanted them to be involved in their church and community. She and Fred would faithfully pick them up every Wednesday and took them all to choir practice and then out to eat dinner afterwards.
Mercedes “Chede” Conder passed away unexpectedly after gardening on Monday, October 29th in Austin, Texas at the age of 79.
Chede is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Fred Conder; children: Camy and husband Wesley Young; Cachele and husband Steve Spinn; Chendrith Pittman; grandchildren: Michele, Weston, Tyler, Megan, Cameron, Brandon, and Jacob. She was preceded in death by her parents and several brothers and sisters.
All are welcome to attend A Celebration of Life service which is scheduled for Saturday, November 3rd at 11:00 am at Hyde Park Christian Church, 610 E. 45th Street, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. A private graveside service and butterfly release will be held at Austin Memeorial Park Cemetery later that day. Donations can be made to the Assistance League of Austin or the First Tee of Greater Austin. The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, kind words, meals provided to the family and remembrances of Chede.
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