Royce and Margaret Ashcraft

Margaret Ann Yates Ashcraft, a longtime Austin, Texas resident, died on June 26, 2016. She was 91. A memorial service is going to be held in The Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home on July 23rd at 10:00 A.M. with interment to follow at the old I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hamilton, Texas.

Margaret Ann was born on August 30, 1924 in Waco, Texas. Her parents were George Gordon and Rowena Graves Yates. She was the middle child of three children having an older and younger brother and was commonly referred to as “Sister” or “Sis.” She attended Temple, Texas schools as well as Baylor University. Margaret Ann was a descendant of Dr. George Washington Barnett who was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence as well as Frederick Browder Gentry who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. On January 28, 1949, she married Royce L. Ashcraft. He proceeded her in death on September 30, 2008. Royce and Margaret Ann shared a love of Texas and its history, traveling far and wide across the state. They also thoroughly enjoyed boating on Lake Travis with friends and family as well as entertaining them at the home they built. Margaret Ann water skied until she was in her late 60’s. As a couple, they were outstanding on the dance floor to any kind of music. But most of all, they loved polka dancing and attended many of the ethnic festivals through the years in the Hill Country area where they were well known for their dancing expertise. Margaret Ann was a bright and intelligent woman, having been born with a keen mind and a knack for seeing through things as they really were. She could just about size anybody up in a moment or two after first meeting them. Very much of a conservative woman, she was an avid reader and kept entire articles, pieces of articles or short quotes, in folders where she could refer back to them. If she thought the article would be interesting to someone, she would send it on with a nice note.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, William G. Yates and Henry P. Yates. She is survived by four nephews, Bill, Murphy, Dan and Perry Yates and her sister- in- law, Evelyn Yates. The family wishes to thank the caregivers who helped Margaret Ann so much over the past two years. Memorials may be made to Gentiva Hospice of Austin, The University of Mary Hardin Baylor School of Nursing or to a charity of choice.