Cheeta McNatt

Cheeta Lamberth McNatt was born Mary Rebecca Ellis, daughter of William and Ethel Ellis of Foreman, Arkansas, on March 20th sometime between World War I and World War II. Since she maintained virtually until her death on Dec. 10th that “a woman who will tell her age will tell anything,” it will not be revealed here. Cheeta developed a lifelong interest in politics when she moved to Dallas and began working for Jim Blundell, a political consultant of then-Congressman Lyndon Johnson, who also involved her in early campaigns for John Connally and Price Daniel.

She married builder E.P. Lamberth in 1949, and they had one daughter before his untimely death in 1957 at the age of 44. She and E.P. built their dream home in Greenway Parks based on Cliff May’s 1949 Pacesetter House of the Year, and she continued to live there for the rest of her life. In 1961, she married Dr. Malcolm McNatt, who died in 1976; she and Malcolm enjoyed many overseas trips together.

Cheeta expressed gratitude throughout her life for the counsel received from J.D. Francis, president of Mercantile Bank, when she was a young widow with a child. Eventually she joined forces with J.D.’s son, Foster Francis, to invest in real estate. Their 40+-year partnership succeeded due to complementary skills and great mutual respect, and continued after Foster’s death with Robin Francis Carreker. Cheeta would be considered an enigma as a businesswoman by many. After her re-marriage, she could not, by state law, unilaterally sign her own contracts. But ever the doctrinaire conservative, she maintained that the overturn of this archaic Texas law in 1967 was just the “unnecessary meddling of a bunch of libbers.”

She was very proud to be a direct descendant of Richard Ellis, who supervised the writing of Texas’ Declaration of Independence and its Constitution as president of the 1836 constitutional convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Cheeta belonged to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Society of Colonial Dames of the XVIIth Century. Her social memberships included Trippers,Vagabonds, Matheon and the Public Affairs Luncheon Club. She became a dedicated duplicate bridge player, and spent many Wednesday afternoons playing at the Dallas Country Club, in addition to duplicate tournaments around the country – always impeccably and somewhat flamboyantly dressed.

Cheeta is survived by her daughter, Markeeta McNatt Brown, for whom she was the best mother she knew how to be. Other survivors include Irene McGee Rodgers; Wanda Rudolph; cousins Janie and Van Telford, and their sons Ellis and Brad. She was preceded in death by her sister, Martha Hawkins Reed, and is survived by her brother, Dandridge Ellis, as well as six nieces and nephews. The last four years of Cheeta’s and her family’s life were made immeasurably easier by Family Staffing Services, especially Amy Rutledge and Ruby Dean. Markeeta would also like to thank Natalie Garry and Dr. Amit Shah of the UT Southwestern Geriatric Dept., whose program for house-bound patients allowed Cheeta to remain in her beloved home until her death. Services will be held Friday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at Sparkman-Hillcrest, Monsignor Donald Zimmerman officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thur., Dec. 15, also at Sparkman-Hillcrest. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the University of Texas at Dallas Center for Brain Health, 2200 W. Mockingbird, Dallas, 75235.