Olive Horne Becker

Olive Horne Becker died quietly trying to complete her 96th year. She was born Olive Chesley Horne in Sabine Pass, Texas, in 1916, to Glenn and Olive Horne. She spent her early years in Houston, having graduated from San Jacinto High School and earned her degree from Rice Institute. Before the war, Olive had married George Herder Allen, and they had a daughter Olive Dixon Allen.

After George and she went different directions, Olive married William J. “Bud” Steeger in 1946 in Washington, D.C., as he completed his extended service in World War Two as a commander with the Navy. Olive, Bud, and Olive Dixon returned to Houston for him to resume his law practice and oil investments. Bud and Olive were founding members of Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church. In 1974, Bud died while wildcatting in Australia.

Later, she reconnected with an old friend, Bill Becker, who had lived in Houston but was then in El Paso. A brief courtship became a marriage, with the couple living in El Paso for two years and returning to Houston. Bill died in 2001. Over the past several years, Olive and her friend Earl Lester became devoted to each other. While the Lesters have been family friends for three generations, Earl has moved from close friend to better-than-real family.

Olive was an avid golfer and a killer bridge player, having been a Life Master.

She is survived by her daughter Olive Dixon Hughes and her husband Lynn N. Hughes; three grandchildren – Dixon Presswood Schultz and her husband Brian P. Schultz; Ronald Presswood, Jr., and his wife Barbara Presswood; and Lindsey Hughes; and she has four great grandsons: Austin Schultz, Dylan Presswood, Tyler Presswood, and Ryan Presswood.

With Bill Becker, Olive acquired a lasting love for his children, Kay Becker Harvey, Jed Becker, Kyle Becker Hendix, and their families.

The family will hold in their hearts the patience, competence, and empathy – true compassion – that Bonnie Estes and Lupe Flores brought to her final months. They were aided by Cristeel Ortiz.

A service will be held honoring her at one o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, February 23rd, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., Rector, is to officiate. Immediately following, the family will greet friends during a reception in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorials are preferred to the Olive Chesley Horne Fund for History at Rice University, Development Office – MS81, Post Office Box 1892, Houston, Texas, 77251-1892.