Emafred “Freddie” Pengelly passed away with her daughter by her side on Tuesday evening. A devoted daughter, wife, mother and friend, she used her many talents to make her community and home a better place for all.
Born at home and reared in Port Arthur, Texas, she was the youngest of Thomas and Etta Schoppe’s seven children. Her mother named her “Ema” after her grandmother and “Fred” after her grandfather and great-grandfather. Her siblings didn’t especially like the name, so her oldest brother, Preston, nicknamed her “Freddie” and the rest is history.
Freddie was a life-long Catholic and attended St. James Catholic School and Bishop Byrne High School, where she was graduated valedictorian. She attended her father’s alma mater, Sam Houston State Teachers College, where she was graduated with honors with a B.A. in Political Science. Her first job was in Dallas at the First National Bank of Dallas, where she worked closely with oilmen George H.W. Bush and the Liedtke brothers to collateralize a loan that formed Zapata Petroleum Corp., Pennzoil’s predecessor. She moved to Houston and joined Humble Oil and Refining Company, now Exxon Mobil, a professional relationship and point of personal pride that she held dear the rest of her life. Around the same time, a college friend from Texas A&M and popular journalist Allen Pengelly, moved back to Houston after spending two years working in Europe. Friends brought them together, they married and spent the next 39 years as best friends and true soul mates.
An avid gardener, wonderful cook, foodie, sports fan, community/church volunteer as well as a current events and political junkie, Freddie was conversant on many subjects. People simply loved being around her. Recent community involvement included being an active member of the College of Liberal Arts Development Council at Texas A&M University, holding several volunteer positions for the United Way through Exxon Mobil, serving as rosary leader and altar guild member at St. Augustine Catholic Church and starting the Schoppe Family College of Education Endowed Scholarship at Sam Houston State University. Freddie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Allen and five brothers and sisters. She leaves behind daughter, Eydie, sister Dorothy Schoppe and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation and rosary will take place Friday, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale. A memorial ceremony followed by the burial will take place Saturday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale’s Chapel of Angels. Flowers are most welcome. Those preferring to make donations may do so to the Schoppe Family College of Education Endowed Scholarship (note in the “for” line), Sam Houston State University, Box 2537, Huntsville, TX 77341, attention Thelma Mooney.
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