My Mom was an inspiration to me. I was proud of her accomplishments, strong will, energy and so much more. It has been a year and the void is still there. I cherish the time we had and thank the Lord he made me her daughter.

I think about my big sis everyday, I loved her so dearly, what a void she's left in my life.

Paul and I thought a lot of Marie, we will miss her lovely welcoming smile that was always present whenever we met.
Our love goes out to all Marie's Family at this sad time.

These are some notes that I wrote in preparing to do My mother's eulogy:

My mother was the most honorable, hard working, courageous, strong-willed, virtuous person I’ve ever known.  She was loving, nurturing and generous to her family.  My sister and I were extremely close to her…we called ourselves “the three musketeers”.  Her best friend though was her sister Betty. 

She always told my sister and I that we could do ANYTHING in life that we aspired to do which wasn’t just a line.  She believed it and I believe she was proud of the women that we’ve grown into.  She always said that her grandchildren were “her heart”.  She adored them and they adored her.
She would often say that she wore us (her family) like a lovely corsage. 

When my sons were born, she was the first person I’d call for advice, when I was upset, she was the person I’d call to be my sounding board.  When I was sick and wanted a sympathetic ear she was the person I’d call…she was also the first person I’d call when I had something great to share….I will miss her so much.

My mom had a very feisty spirit (everyone would agree).  She definitely was not afraid of a challenge!  When she was a young girl her mother would tell her “honey, why don’t you let the boys win sometimes”…she never did.  She had a great sense of humor and joked and was funny until the end…even in the hospital.  The nurses loved her.

She was also a heck of a dirt bike rider.  When we were teenagers we would camp and ride motorcycles in the woods…eating Frito pie out of the bag for dinner.  We rode in enduro’s together and have trophies to prove it!

Mom loved to entertain and have pool parties.  Over the years we had many family gatherings and as teens my friends and my sister’s friends always gathered at our house…they all called her “Mom”.

She worked in the oil industry for over 25 years and was highly respected in the HR field. She was known for being extremely fair, but also for expecting a lot from her employees.  In the years before retirement she became Transocean’s first female officer as the assistant VP of HR, which at that time and that industry was tough to do…we were very proud of her.  She traveled all over the world for business (and for pleasure) and regularly went on the oil rigs, riding on the helicopters and being lowered down onto the platforms in the “employee baskets” I think they were called.
She attended and graduated from a marine firefighting school-she was tough and could hold her own…mentally and physically.

My mom was beautiful.  I always loved the gap in between her front teeth, but in her 40’s she wore braces and closed the gap.  For years she always wore very high heels and was touted as having the “best legs in drilling”

In retirement she was very dedicated to several charities including the Assistance League and Taping for the Blind.  She was on the board of Taping for the Blind and volunteered there every week until she wasn’t feeling well enough to do it anymore.  Her hobbies included gardening, painting, sketching and knitting and doting on her beloved cats.…someone once said they wanted to come back as one of her cats because she spoiled them so much.

It’s going to be tough to go through the rest of my life without her, but I do get some solace in knowing that I will see her again someday… and one thing I do know is that she would want us to celebrate her life on this day.  She will always be in our hearts.

Reprint of Remembrance read at funeral:
 
 My name is Eileen Gradwohl.  I have been a friend of Betty’s for twenty-something years and that’s how I came to know Marie.  

 In my opinion, Marie was cool.  Actually, she was very cool.  She was so cool that she could hang around with herself all day long and not be lonesome.  She could not talk to another soul for a week and still call herself happy.  She traveled all over the world alone and never had a moment’s pause about it.  She was that self-possessed and confident.

 Marie was at all times her own person and she always knew what she was doing.  If she was assigned a task, which makes me laugh because I can’t picture anybody giving orders to Marie, but, anyway,  if she took on a job, you could count on its being done right.  Her work product was reliably A-1, which was probably how she got to be an executive.  It’s hard to believe now, but back then, the only woman you would see in an executive suite was probably serving coffee.  

 When I first met Marie, she lived in a townhouse near her present home.  The main attraction of that house was its beautiful walled garden.  It was truly an oasis in the city and a little bit of paradise on earth.  If you glimpsed that garden from her kitchen window, you could not hold yourself back from going outside to look at it.   Near the back door, she had these enormous staghorn ferns, which were so beautiful and lush you could not believe they were real.  I remember she had them on pullys so she could work with them and then put them back at any height she wanted.  From the fern garden you could follow along on Marie’s thoughtful plan.  Each space felt like a separate room and you could browse through the little attractions she had laid out along the way – a water feature here, a showy plant in a pot over there, or maybe you’d spy an iron thingie she had repurposed and artfully posed at an unexpected angle.  She had the first “moonlight” feature I ever saw and the first chiminea. 

       She later almost burned the house down with the chiminea. 

 Her garden was a haven for critters too.  The frogs had plenty of water and ledges to croak from and the chameleons liked to have gone crazy changing colors in all the different foliage she provided.  She had several bird feeders and  I think I remember she even put out corn cob hors d’oeurves for the squirrels – I never quite understood that.   Maybe the squirrels were actually  hors d’oeuvers for her cat because at that time Marie had a big ole tom cat.   Marie always had a cat and whatever cat she had, it was treated better than Leona Helmsley’s dog. 
 
 Marie cut a dashing figure back in the 80s:   she was tall and slim and striking.  She had beautiful hair, a patrician nose, and a wide smile.  She could charm anybody if she wanted to, but the cool thing about Marie was that if she wanted to be charming she just would be and she wouldn’t be fake about it.  I never saw her fake anything in all the years I knew her.  She had great integrity that way.

 Marie was capable of great humor and if you were hanging around with her, you were bound to laugh.  Her laugh was deep and loud and warm and you would always want to be in on whatever she was laughing about.  She was a great one for quips and she was always making amusing observations and coining witty phrases.  She was the first person I ever heard call McDonald’s “Micky D’s” and she came up with that despite an eye-bleeding  hangover after a bunch of us girls stayed up all night drinking adult beverages and toasting Betty’s marriage to Ren Ree.

 Marie raised two great girls and gave them her good looks.  She had a best friend sister, Betty, who was her fond competition in gardening and her most devoted advocate in sickness.  Her sister Carolyn, her late brother Danny, and all the rest of her family knew they had a gem in Marie and they all adored her – except not to her face because Marie would never allow any slobbering over her.   
 She loved her friends and family and we are all so blessed to have been a part of her world.

 Marie was strong in mind and purpose, brave in sickness, forthright, intelligent,  and honest in life.  For me, she was an inspiration. 

 All of us here appreciate the light Marie brought into our lives, and I think we all have a sore spot in our hearts right now when we think of her.  I know her body is gone, but the essence that is Marie is always alive and accessible in our memories.  

 My condolences to all of us.

Marie was one of the first people I met when I was hired by United Carbon Co., in the fall of 1960.  It was my first full-time job in Houston, among mostly West Virginian co-workers who constantly ribbed me about my Boston/Cape Cod accent. Marie teased me, too, asking me to say "party" and laughing with delight at the word with no "r."  She'd also contribute dry comments about her life in Massachusetts when Don was stationed there in the Air Force.  We worked and socialized together for three years and, after I left Texas in 1963, I kept in touch with her by mail with only three in-person visits during those nearly 50 years. When we met, it was always as if no time had passed and we would laugh and reminisce with the joy of old friends.  

Thanks for those moments, Marie. I'll never forget them -- or that very special person who was Marie Roberts.

I had the privilege of volunteering with Marie for many years at Taping for the Blind.  I am sure that I speak for all of the volunteers, clients, staff and Board members when I say that Marie was very much appreciated and will be greatly missed.  Not only was she dedicated and hard working (even throughout her illness), but she gave expert advice, had a keen sense of humor and was fun!  Rest in peace.

Every Thanksgiving for nearly 20 years, my husband and I  read a letter written to Marie by her mother, Evelyn, in November of 1960.  She  wrote it to her “fine little Marie” so she could prepare her first Thanksgiving dinner away from home,  It is almost a textbook on how to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner and we receive such joy in reading it.  Betty and Marie were so kind   to share it with us and we, too, pass it on.       

I am sure this year, when we get out our recipes, that letter  will be in there with them, reminding us of how much we miss Marie.

What wonderful memories I have of Marie over the past 40+ years!  Super Mom, Professional Woman, World Traveler, Motorcross Rider, Roller Skater, Ski Master....she could do it all!  You left such happy memories in the hearts of all who knew, loved and respected you.  Memories for your children and grandchildren to cherish forever.  Rest in Peace, my friend.

I was so sorry to hear of Marie's passing.  She was so full of energy and such a joy to work with at Assistance League.  We will miss her greatly.

What a legacy of love, sweet memories and courage Marie leaves to her daughters,family and friends.
We loved her and will miss her so much.

From the first time I met Marie 13 years ago, I felt like I had always known her.  She was so kind to me when Fletch brought me to meet "The Aunts"  When I heard that she had passed, I immediately started thinking back to the times I had spent with her at the family gatherings,  and realized that she was always happy, laughing, smiling and just so much fun to be around. I grew to love her a great deal.  I will truly miss her. She was an awesome lady.

I will really miss my Aunt Marie. I loved her very much. She was a beautiful person. 

Love, 
Avery

May memories of your loved one comfort you at this difficult time.
    Your friends at the Assistance League of Houston

Marie was a strong, independent, smart woman who loved her children fiercely.  She also will be remembered as a professional woman with a great sense of humor and a no- nonsense way of looking at life.  My sincere condolences to her family and friends.  Marie will be missed.  Sincerely,  Gloria

I think of Marie as the "Matriarch of Offshore".  She kept everyone on their toes and made coming to work fun and enjoyable.  She made such an impression on my young life (25+ years ago) with her strong work ethic.  Eve/Donna, please take comfort in knowing all of those who loved and admired her and will miss her terribly!

I will always miss Marie.  She was always fun, funny, had a great laugh, and a beautiful smile.  I loved viewing all the pictures of Marie!  What a beautiful person!

Marie was a very special person. I was fortunate to have her as a mentor/boss during my early career. She had a true compassion and empathy for people and had a keen sense of what was the 'fair and right' way to handle situations. Marie had a passion for life and was always fun to be around. Eve and Donna, I hope you take comfort in the memories you keep and in knowing how much your Mom loved you and her grandkids. 

Peggy Boyter Matlock

Here's to a great neighbor and a good friend.  You will be missed, Marie.

I met Marie at Assistance League of Houston and discovered what a fine person she was.I really enjoyed getting to know her and sharing volunteer work with her. I will miss her. Please accept my sincere sympathy to all of the family. 
Bru Lopez

So sad to hear of Marie's passing. She was a wonderful lady, and I will remember all of her tireless work on behalf of the Assistance League of Houston. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Marie was such a beautiful lady in every way. She brightened our days at Assistance League and challenged us to work as hard and to be as giving as she. We shall all miss her.
JoAnn Suthers, Houston

Marie was one of our favorite people.  She was a wonderful person who cared for those around her.  In her job as an HR person, no one  was a better advocate for the employees or had more concern for their best interest.  She kept the rest of us in line and probably out of trouble.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and was a truly beautiful lady in every way.  She will be greatly missed.

So very sad to hear of Marie's passing. She has been missed greatly at Assistance League of Houston where she was a great volunteer with a heart of gold, and had endless energy.  I will always remember her as the spunky gal who volunteered with such pride and love of our organization. My heart goes out to the family and friends.  Peace be with you all.

Oh, Marie, you had such a zest for life.  You were well loved and we'll all miss you.

We will miss her terribly.  Eve and Donna, I hope the pain this loss is quickly replaced by the happy memories of your mother.  I do find it comforting though, that my dad has one of his sisters by his side once again.

Eve and Donna,

I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  She has always had a special place in my heart and will always be known as "Mom" to me.  Hugs and prayers for you both. 

Renee

OBITUARY

Marie B. Roberts

December 5, 1939 – July 2, 2011

Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services