Marjorie Louise Heaton

Marjorie Louise (Krueger) Heaton, age 93, of Austin, Texas went to Heaven on February 11, 2024.

The youngest of five children, Marjorie was born on April 26, 1930 in Amherst, Nebraska to parents Ernst August Friedrich Krueger and Erna Frieda Augusta (Hemmann) Krueger. Marjorie attended the local one room schoolhouse for her education and indeed walked to and from school. She loved the family farm and was proud to show it off to her family and friends.

Marjorie attended college in Kansas for a short time before moving to Austin, Texas in the late 1940s. It was in Austin where Marjorie met the love of her life, Theodore Houghton Heaton Jr.

Theodore and Marjorie married on July 8, 1949 in Houston, Texas. They had five beautiful children - Merle, Theodore III, Christopher, Shawn, and Matthew - all of whom she loved dearly. She was also the loving grandmother of Kimberly, Meredythe, Margaret, Megan Adele, Christopher Jr, Jacob, Audie, and Abigail, and great-grandmother of Anjali, Rebekah, Louise, and Theodore. Marjorie adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren - they were special to her.

Marjorie worked for the Missouri Synod Lutheran District office and for St Paul Lutheran Church in the church office in her early work years upon coming to Austin. She also assisted at the Marie Antoinette Clothing store on occasion. She then worked closely with Ted Jr in starting a series of independent insurance adjusting firms eventually forming the Ted H. Heaton Company. Marjorie, with her office and people skills, was instrumental in helping build their insurance adjusting business into one of the most successful adjusting services in Texas. Marjorie was renowned as a typing and multitasking queen. She and Ted Jr were a formidable team in building relationships with insurance company executives to build their business, working with their teams to adjust claims, and working with the public who had experienced a claim.

After a long career working in the insurance industry, Marjorie worked as executive assistant to the director of the Texas School for the Blind in Austin, Texas where she again distinguished herself as a tremendous asset to the school.

After retiring from the State of Texas, she started a second career as a nanny and cared for children who were also very dear to her. Marjorie truly loved children and this was her dream job. She helped shape the lives of the young children she cared for so lovingly.

Marjorie served as a volunteer at the Cedar Park Library in her spare time. She also volunteered at the Austin State Supported Living Center as a guardian advocate for over 15 years. While volunteering at the ASSLC, she served on the Volunteer Council Board and the Ethics Committee leaving no stone unturned to serve the less fortunate. She also volunteered at Hospice Austin for several years assisting families with end of life advice and advocacy. Marjorie was one fierce advocate.

Marjorie and Ted Jr were the kind of parents that loved the outdoors, exposed their children to the outdoors, and loved being on or near the water. She enjoyed going to the symphony and attending musicals. She and Ted Jr became prolific on the dance floor, they were so very impressive to watch glide across the floor. Marjorie liked to embroider and loved working in the garden at her homes in Austin and Cedar Park. She especially loved roses and azaleas. Marjorie also loved animals and the Heaton family had many special pets that brought joy to her life. We will forever treasure memories of our trips to the Texas coast and the family farm in Nebraska. Marjorie was also a great cook and taught her family how to make their beloved tapioca pudding that was fought over relentlessly at family gatherings.

Marjorie was very active in the Lutheran Church. She was a member at both St Paul Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cedar Park, Texas. Marjorie enjoyed participating in the choir with her angel-like voice and she used that voice to soothe her children when they needed comfort. Her faith in God was strong and our family takes comfort in knowing that Marjorie was called home to be with Him.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Theodore Houghton Heaton Jr, daughter Merle Ellen (Heaton) Rubsam, and her siblings Eva (Krueger) Routson, Elva (Krueger) Kauer, Bernard Krueger, and Cordelia Krueger.

Marjorie is survived by her sons Theodore Heaton III and his wife Nancy, Christopher Heaton and his wife Lucy, Shawn Heaton, and Matthew Heaton. She is also survived by her grandchildren Kimberly Rubsam Ramakrishnan, Meredythe Heaton Wilkinson, Margaret Heaton Clarkson, Megan Adele Heaton Koller, Christopher Heaton Jr, Jacob Heaton, Audie Heaton, and Abigail Heaton, and great-grandchildren Anjali Ramakrishnan, Rebekah Ramakrishnan, Louise Clarkson and Theodore Wilkinson. Marjorie adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was our best friend and we will miss her dearly until we all see her again. Marjorie lived her life for her children and grandchildren and there was nothing that she could not do to help them live the best lives possible. She was truly the BEST MOM EVER!

Our family wishes to thank Silverleaf Eldercare at Lakeline and Suncrest Hospice for caring for Marjorie in her final days.

Marjorie’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin with family visitation starting at 10AM, service at 11AM, and reception at 12PM. In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Marjorie’s wishes, please consider donating to Hospice Austin, Texas.