Marilyn Stauffer passed away October 1, 2018 at the age of 84.
Marilyn was born Christmas Day, 1933, to Albert and Hilda (Hebbe) Schroeder in Coupland, Texas. Her father was a sharecropper, and her mother was a homemaker. The oldest of three daughters, Marilyn learned to speak German by listening in on conversations of relatives. She grew up picking cotton and helping with the cooking and cleaning around the house. Learning to sew her own clothes was a necessity because her mother wasn’t a very good seamstress. By the time she got to the upper grades, she was such a good seamstress that her home economics teacher asked her for help on sewing projects. Marilyn was driven to do well in school because she wanted a better life for her and for her future children. Before graduating high school, she was named Miss Williamson County of 1951. Her hard work paid off when she graduated as valedictorian of Hutto High School. She went on to graduate from a business school in Austin.
Marilyn was appointed Chief Accountant of TxDot District 17. She became the first female in a male dominated field. She was a very hard worker, and when she wasn’t at work, she was helping others. She was a kind and caring woman, especially with her children, Russell and Rene.
Her attitude toward life was always positive, and she kept busy with the Women’s Civic League, TPEA and other organizations. Marilyn’s faith was very important to her. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and was very active in most of the church’s functions and activities until her health started to decline. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, but it wasn’t because that was her birthday also. She loved to celebrate the Lord. In her free time Marilyn loved to sew and crochet. The latest arts and crafts craze was sure to get her attention.
Marilyn leaves behind her son Russell Stauffer Jr., her daughter Rene Gunn and her husband Robert Gunn, Jr, her sister Lillian Buzan, brother-in-law Carl Beran Jr., and several nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Carolyn Beran.
To honor Marilyn’s life, her family has planned a visitation from 4-6 on Friday, October 5 at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. Her graveside service will be Monday, October 8, 2018 at 10 AM in the Aggie Field of Honor. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that charitable donations be made in Marilyn’s honor to either Hospice Brazos Valley or the Alzheimer’s Association.