Maribel Ruth Ramey Underwood

Maribel Ruth Ramey Underwood was born on Feb 5, 1917, in Galveston and died peacefully January 5, 2018, in Austin surrounded by her family, friends and special caregivers just one month away from her 101st birthday.

She graduated from Sam Houston High School in Houston where she was a competitive swimmer. She and her husband Lea met in Houston while both were working for Humble. After marrying, they moved to Baytown, adopted their daughter Linda and assumed ownership of a nursery that became known as “Lea’s Nursery”. While Lea worked at Humble/Exxon as an accountant, Maribel ran the nursery. Many homes and businesses around Baytown were adorned with landscaping by Maribel & Lea.

Maribel and Lea were longtime members and supporters of St Mark’s United Methodist Church in Baytown. Maribel remained active until she moved to Austin in 2014. She supported Lea in all phases of the Masonic Lodge, Shrine and held numerous offices in her Social Order of the Beauceant Chapter. She and Lea enjoyed travelling in their Airstream while their health permitted. Gardening and investing were her hobbies. In her late 80’s she and her friend Bunny began taking painting lessons and she enjoyed her newly found creative side well into her late 90’s.

Maribel loved her family and friends beyond words and will be missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Edward and Anna Bell Kirk Ramey and her husband, Lea Underwood. Maribel is survived by her daughter, Linda Underwood Raymer of Austin; her “#2 daughter”, Elizabeth Hebel Buckner; grandsons, Tom Raymer and wife Stacey of Newport Beach, CA and Jay Raymer and wife Armina of Huntington Beach, CA; and her great-grandchildren, Chase Raymer, Jillian Raymer, Aidan Raymer, Braylon Raymer and Shylee Raymer, all of California. Included are special “granddaughters”, Lauri and Lisa Lumus.

A private graveside service will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. Her family will receive friends at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3811 N. Main St., Baytown, TX 77521, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Peter Miller officiating. Another memorial service will be held Sunday, February 4, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at the Brookdale Beckett Meadows Assisted Living, 7709 Beckett Rd., Austin, TX 78749. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Maribel’s life.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Beckett Meadows and Brookdale Hospice in Austin for their caring support and dedication.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.