Margaret Grace Curry

On Sunday, June 26, 2011 our wonderful mom, grandma, and mentor, Margaret Curry of Victoria, passed from this life. She was born in Cheney, Kansas, to Harvey C. Ausherman and Grace Matson Ausherman on September 3, 1918. While at Cheney High School, she was the piano accompanist for the music department and won 2nd place in piano at state events, graduating in 1936. Margaret attended Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, with the idea of becoming a commercial artist.

While there, she met a handsome young fellow named John Curry. They married October 14, 1939, and celebrated 66 years together. Margaret traveled with John as he welded on the oil pipelines during the beginning of World War II. When he enlisted in the Navy she went back to Wichita where she worked for Boeing Aircraft as a junior illustrator in their art department. She later joined him moving wherever the government sent him with the Navy. The war ended and they came back to Austin, Texas, where their first daughter, JoAnn was born. After a few years they moved to Victoria and John went to work for DuPont with Margaret beginning her teaching career. Soon their second daughter, Mary Jane, was born. They loved dancing and were members of the Victoria Dance Club for many years.

Mom’s teaching career began at Presbyterian Day School. She taught there for two years and then at Wood Hi. Even though she was certified to teach art and music, she had not taken enough education courses while she was in college. So she traveled to San Marcos to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in education. During her twenty years of teaching, she taught art and music at Wood Hi, Guadalupe, and William Offer Schools. She ended her teaching career at Aloe Elementary, teaching the 5th grade - her love. After she retired she taught watercolor painting at the “Open Door” and art for many years at the Institute of Lifetime Learning.

She was a lifetime member of Retired Teachers Association, a member of International Partners and Teachers (IPAT), China Painters of Texas, and the Victoria Art League. During these years she held the position of president at the Victoria Art League, formerly the Metropolitan Art League, president of the Victoria Garden Club when the first Rose Garden was put into Riverside Park and, president of the Victoria China Painting Club. She was an honorary member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Victoria Quilt Guild and the Golden Crescent Porcelain Art Club. She also enjoyed her times playing with the Bridge Club.

During her lifetime, she played the piano for the Morning Study Club, the Couples Class, later called the Pairs and Spares, at the First Methodist Church and many other organizations and local events. Her main love in her last years was the group of ladies from the Porcelain Art Club that met at her house each Monday morning to paint, learn, and laugh. Her constant companion then was her cat, “Puff”.

Mom was one of the most vivacious, brilliant, and creative individuals many of us will ever know. She loved all her wonderful friends and past students. She lived life fully to the very last moment. She will be immensely missed by all of us.

Margaret Grace Curry was predeceased by her spouse, John T. Curry and is survived by her daughters, JoAnn Hawkes and spouse David, and Mary Jane Cope and spouse Rick; sister, Joan Gillespie and her family of Corpus Christi.

Margaret leaves behind five grandchildren; Michelle Seymour and spouse Joel, Michael Braeuer and spouse Christin, Brenda Tucker and spouse Charlie, Brian Cope, and Cassie Bruster and spouse Luke.

She will also be missed by her eight great grandchildren; Jordan Seymour Snyder and Gabriel Seymour, Carmen, Isa, Peyton, and Riley Tucker, Salem Grace Braeuer and Avery Grace Bruster.

Funeral services will be at 2 PM on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Marilyn Roeder and Mrs. Curry’s son-in-law Pastor Rick Cope officiating. Interment with graveside services will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery afterwards.

Pallbearers will be Mike Braeuer, Brian Cope, Luke Bruster, Charlie Tucker, Michelle Seymour and John Hawkes.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to Drs. William Shay, Kurtis Krueger, and Charles Daniel, who took such loving care of our mother, and to the Homewood Residence where she spent her last several weeks with many of her lifetime friends.

Mom would appreciate memorials and charitable donations to be sent to Dr. Sandra Cochran at her veterinary service: Acres of Animals Boarding Kennel at 8082 FM 236, Victoria, Texas, 77905-2651, phone: 361-578-9050.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com