Elsie Bertha Meyer Wray passed away on November 1st, 2015, at the age of 96. She was born on Sept. 2, 1919, in San Marcos, Texas and grew up on a farm nearby, the second child of Eddie and Alma Bauerschlag Meyer. Part of the “greatest generation”, Elsie rode her pony to a one-room schoolhouse, fed chickens, churned butter, lived through the Great Depression, and graduated with a B.A. from Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University). She taught Physical Education in Sequin, Texas, prior to marrying Lt. Milton Eugene (Gene) Wray, also of San Marcos, when he was on a 3-day pass from the Army Air Corps during WWII. Elsie got to travel to many different states with Gene, because he taught the classroom training for fighter pilots at each domestic Air Corp base. Settling down again in Texas after Gene completed over 4 years in the military, Elsie became the quintessential housewife and mother of the 1950’s and 60’s. Her highest priority was always her family. Gene continued to work for the Federal Government, and they lived in Chandler, Arizona, for 11 years while raising their two daughters, before returning to Texas. Two and a half years after moving to New Braunfels, Gene passed away. Elsie worked for a few years at Krause’s Fashions and retired, living the rest of her life in the home she and Gene built there together. She loved to sew and knit, and was a member of New Braunfels Presbyterian Church for almost 50 years.
Elsie Wray is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Milton Eugene Wray; her brother, George Edward Meyer; a nephew, Jon Wayne Meyer; a granddaughter, Stacy Renee Schwarz; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and many wonderful, loving friends. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Gail Wray Raudebaugh (Ray P.), of Delta, Colorado, and Jane Wray Schwarz (David W.) of Arlington, Texas; a nephew, George Edward Meyer, Jr. (Renae), of Omaha, Nebraska; and a niece, Terry Meyer, of Austin. Elsie was called “Grandma Sweetheart” in German by her grandchildren: Jason Eugene Raudebaugh (Maja), and Craig Raudebaugh (Melinda), of Tempe, AZ; Breanne Elizabeth Schwarz, and Justin Bradley Schwarz, of Arlington, TX; and a great-grandson by Breanne, Charles Ray Ingram, Jr., also of Arlington, TX. Surviving friends and neighbors remember Elsie fondly. The family would like to extend sincere thanks for the loving care and assistance provided by her caretakers, nurses, friends and nursing home staff in her later years.
Visitation will be at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels on Monday, November 16, 2015, from 5-7 PM. Memorial graveside services will be held at San Marcos Cemetery at 1 PM on Tuesday, November 17th, where Elsie will be laid to rest next to her loving husband. Reception following graveside services will occur at the family home in New Braunfels. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, www.diabeteswellness.net, or The American Cancer Society as desired.
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