Cora Hearne

Cora Emma Cook Hearne
1911~2007

Graveside services for Cora Cook Hearne of Bryan was held today at the Bryan City Cemetery.

Mrs. Hearne was born in the Steep Hollow Community to Issac Marion and Joanna Duff
on July 8, 1911, and was the youngest of six children. She attended school in the Steep Hollow community and after high school attended John Tarleton Junior College in Stephenville, Texas.  She was employed with several businesses in Bryan before coming an accountant with the Agriculture Agency in College Station for a number of years. She left that position to assist her husband with a cattle and dairy farm in the Kurten Community, before retiring in Bryan.

Mrs. Hearne was preceded in death by her husband, Bryan William Hearne, her parents, and by five brothers and sisters.  She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Billie Jean and Jack Holland of Dallas, Texas, and Dorothy and Marvin Ouren of Bryan, as well as eight grandchildren, Pamela Adams and husband Robert of Ft. Worth, Texas; Paula Rieker and husband Jim of Spring Branch, Texas; Bryan Holland and wife Erica, Steven Holland and wife Sarah; Jack Holland Jr. and wife Gloria all of Dallas, Texas; William (Bill) Ouren and wife, Susan of Kingwood, Texas; Suzanne Ouren of Frisco, Texas; and Miles Ouren and wife Lora of College Station.  Her sixteen great-grandchildren include
Jacquelyn, Paula and Michael Adams, of Ft. Worth; Jacob and Rachel Holland; Craig, Matthew, Cole, and Stephanie Holland and Jack Holland III, Carolyn and Kate Holland of Dallas; Jessica Shirey of Frisco; and Mason, Miller and Morgan Ouren of College Station.

Cora’s parents were hard-working farming people and were leaders in the Steep Hollow community as well as strong parental models.  From them she learned a strong work ethic and thriftiness as well as kindness and understanding of others.  Cora was a very considerate person, always helping someone in need.  Her daughters will remember her as a busy working mother who managed to always provide for the needs of her two girls.
The daughters were born during the Depression years and hard times made it necessary for her to work full-time outside the home.  She still managed to sew clothing, can food, provide for and contribute to many outside activities for the girls.  In later years she cared for her ailing mother until her death and then for her husband through a lengthy illness.

Cora was a lady of numbers. She worked as an accountant for a number of years, and managed the family finances knowing every detail, well into her 80’s. She was an avid card player, spending hours with friends playing canasta, dominoes and in later years her favorite, SkipBo. When she found herself alone, she was always challenged with the game of Solitaire.  As her mind began to fail and names and facts became unclear, her memory of finances, investments, and numbers remained very clear.


Cora Hearne had a soft spot in her heart for children and thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren. Seven of the eight grandchildren attended Texas A&M and the Hearne house was always a home to them as well as many of her friends. She provided food at the spur of the moment, shelter for unexpected guests, financial counseling and genuine understanding for all of their problems.  On weekends she was never sure when she went to bed for the night as to how many extra people would be sleeping in her home when she awakened the next morning.  She expertly played the role of the family matriarch.

Cora was connected with Texas A&M  in other ways as well.  Her older brother, Bill Cook, was appointed in 1902 by Texas A&M President Bizzell as publisher of the first “Texas Aggie” magazine to fill the need of communicating with former students.  Her husband served as Military Property Custodian for Texas A&M for many years.  She had one daughter and two sons-in-law as graduates of A&M with one great-grandson currently completing his degree and several more great-grandchildren waiting in the wings for their opportunity.

In the early 1990’s Cora and her husband were approached by a young Aggie asking to borrow several hundred dollars to repair his friend’s truck which he had damaged in an auto accident and promising to work over the summer months to repay the loan. Though they did not know the boy well, funds were taken from their small savings account and the Aggie never forgot their kindness.  Not only did he repay the money at the beginning of the next school year, but many years later he honored Cora and her husband with a TAMU memorial scholarship in their name.

While Cora loved living, she was always realistic that everyone had at time for dying. She lived her life fully but welcomed the end as relief from the hardships of aging. She will be remembered as a witty lady always ready to help.  She in now at peace, joining her husband, Bryan Hearne, lovingly called “Daddygrand,” in Heaven.

WE WILL ALL MISS HER!!