Erlyn Christine Efird

Erlyn Christine Olmstead Efird passed away the morning of Monday, October 13th, 2014. A longtime resident of Huntsville, Texas, Erlyn was known and deeply loved by her family and by many in Huntsville through her active involvement in numerous community organizations as well as with Faith Lutheran Church. Erlyn was born to Captain Erling and Mrs. Edna Olmstead on May 2nd, 1930 in Galveston, Texas. She spent her childhood in Galveston, living through the Great Depression and World War II before graduating from Ball High School. While in Galveston, she met her future husband, Henry Hugh Efird, and after a two year engagement, they were married on February 13th, 1960. The couple lived for many years in Houston, Texas before moving to Huntsville in 1978. Erlyn and Henry enjoyed twenty-five wonderful years of marriage with their two children Christopher Henry and Charlotte Ruth before Henry passed away in November of 1985. In the years since Henry's death, Erlyn became very active in the Huntsville community. Over the years, Erlyn was involved in such organizations as the Huntsville Garden Club, the HEARTS Veterans Museum, the Huntsville Leadership Institute (where she was in class number 7), the Huntsville Kiwanis (where she was the first female member) and the Business and Professional Women of Huntsville. She also served on the Board of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and was the ticket Chairman of the Sam Houston Folk Festival for three years. Erlyn was also very involved in her church. A lifelong Lutheran of Norwegian decent, Erlyn was a very active member of Faith Lutheran Church. She sang in the church choir for many years, was active in the Faith Lutheran Woman’s group and participated in most of the church’s activities throughout her time in Huntsville. Constant through everything were the three anchors of her life: her family, her faith in God and life in the church, and her music, especially the piano. In each of these she found tremendous joy and happiness. Erlyn is survived by her son Christopher and daughter Charlotte, her daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson Bryce, and by her brother Ellis Olmstead and family of Sherman, Texas. The funeral will be held at 9:30 am on Wednesday, October 22nd at Faith Lutheran Church. The burial will follow that afternoon at Oleander cemetery in Galveston, TX where she will rejoin her beloved husband after almost twenty nine years of separation. A visitation will be held Tuesday night, October 21st from 5 to 7 pm at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the HEARTS Veterans Museum, 463 Highway 75 N, Huntsville, TX 77320. Memorial condolences may be made to the family online at www.shmfh.com.

Erlyn Christine Efird

October 22, 2014