Willie Fitzgerald

Willie Evelyn Archer Fitzgerald (Mimi) beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend joined her Lord in Heaven on Sunday, December 31, 2006. Willie was born July 29, 1914 in Oletha, Texas to Spencer and Bessie Mae Sadler Archer. They moved to Riverside, Texas when she was very young where her parents operated a general mercantile store for many years. In 1935 she received her BA from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College and began her teaching career in Walker County. On August 18, 1940 she wed LV Fitzgerald and in 1946, they moved to Baytown. She continued her education and in 1954 received her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Houston. She taught at Travis Elementary until 1972, when, after LV’s retirement, they would return to his family land in Riverside. She continued to teach at Stewart Elementary in Huntsville until her retirement in 1975. She touched the lives of countless students during her 33 years as an Educator. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, LV and her sister, Elna Mae Jenkins and brother-in-law, Douglas Jenkins. With her as she passed peacefully from this world were her son, Larry V. Fitzgerald from Riverside, and daughter, Sharon Spencer Rhatigan from The Woodlands, Texas. They were shortly joined by Brother Jim Newton, her pastor at Riverside Baptist Church, who proclaimed to Heaven the arrival of this remarkable woman and a true believer in the Word of God. In addition to her children, she is survived by two loving grandchildren, Sarah Spencer Rhatigan of New York City and Sean Courtleigh Rhatigan of Boulder, Colorado; son-in- law, Steven Courtleigh Rhatigan, The Woodlands; niece, Montyne Clayton and husband, Patrick of Houston. She also will be missed by a large number of other relatives from the Fitzgerald, Archer and Sadler families along with numerous friends, such as her companion Fannie Lewis, who assisted her with daily life during these last years; Bernie Rhodes, a longtime Baytown friend and fellow teacher; and Linda O’Banion, a friend for many years. Pall Bearers will be Pat Clayton, Bill Wilson Fitzgerald, John Earl Turner, Bill Fitzgerald III, Bill Turner, Sidney “Trig” Cowart, Bill Dawson, Turner O’Banion, Joe Sadler, Bill Sadler and David Sadler. Honorary Pall Bearers are Orys Gunstream, Delton Stokes, Jack Haney, Fredrick Weinzierl, Harold Clancy, Gus Bowden and Robert Warren. She was a life long member of Riverside Baptist Church; Delta Kappa Gamma/Epsilon Psi Chapter, Baytown; and an active member of the Walker County Retired Teacher’s Association. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday January 3, 2007 at the Riverside Baptist Church Riverside, Texas. The Family will receive friends on Tuesday January 2, 2007 from 6-8 pm at the Chapel of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home 1700 Normal Park. Internment to follow at Pioneer cemetery in Riverside, TX. Contributions may be made in Willie’s honor to: Riverside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9 Riverside TX 77367; or American Heart Association, 10060 Buffalo Speedway Houston TX 77054: or the charity of your choice. Condolences may also be made at www.shmfh.com.

Willie Fitzgerald

July 29, 1914 - January 3, 2007