Peggy Sue Hallbauer

Peggy Sue Hallbauer of Conroe, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the age of 86, after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Diagnosed just before Christmas, on December 23, 2024, she endured the months that followed with the same quiet strength, grace, and deep faith that defined her entire life. She was hospitalized several times for blood transfusions and chemotherapy, and through it all, she remained composed, thoughtful, and deeply connected to her family. We’re grateful for the excellent care provided by the oncology leukemia team at Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical Center.

Peggy was born on January 21, 1939, in Hobbs, New Mexico, to James and Syllrene Vandiver, fondly referred to by grandchildren as “Nanny and PaPa.” She grew up with her brother, Dr. Charles Vandiver, the dentist in Meeker, CO, and her sister Dr. Sherrie Vandiver, a long-time science educator in Irving I.S.D. who moved last week to San Diego, California, to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

After graduating from Hobbs High School in 1957, Peggy attended the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in piano. It was at UNT that she joined Mu Phi Epsilon music sorority and developed many life-long friendships. She later earned a Master of Arts in English from Texas A&I University in 1968 while living in Kingsville, TX, where Gregg was born.

Peggy’s love story with Warren Hallbauer began early—they met in the third grade, started dating in junior high and high school, and though they attended different universities—Warren at the University of New Mexico and Peggy at UNT—they stayed devoted to each other and after graduation were married on September 9, 1961. They celebrated 63 years of marriage together, building a life full of devotion, adventure, music, education, and laughter.

Together, Peggy and Warren raised two children, Gregg and Karen, who both graduated from Pearland High School and Baylor University. Dr. Gregg Hallbauer is a local family physician in Conroe, Texas, married to Joslyn Hallbauer, the music teacher at Wilkinson Elementary. Karen Linton of Poway, California is married to Richard Linton. Karen graduated from Baylor with a human relations degree and works for BAE. Richard works as a product manager for Jack Henry, a credit union software company in San Diego. Peggy poured her heart into her family. She celebrated their achievements, guided them with wisdom, and supported them unconditionally.

Peggy’s love for her family was perhaps most evident in her role as Nana to her five grandchildren. She delighted in watching each of them grow into adulthood and was immensely proud of the lives they are building.

Gregg and Joslyn have 3 boys all of whom graduated from Conroe High School and Baylor University in Waco. The oldest, Dr. Grant Hallbauer is a doctor of physical therapy and lives with his wife Ashley Hallbauer, a surgical PA, in Searcy, Arkansas. Dr. Gage Hallbauer, the middle son, is a recent graduate of Baylor College of Medicine and current physician completing his family medicine residency training in Conroe. He is married to Dr. Sarah Hallbauer who will finish her residency in June and begin working in Conroe with Gregg, her father-in-law, starting in August. The youngest, Garrett Hallbauer, is a recent December graduate of Baylor. He is working on his master’s of teaching at Baylor and is engaged to Marissa Moffatt of Magnolia. Their wedding is on May 25, a milestone Peggy deeply wanted to attend more than anything. When the oncologists were working on Peggy’s treatment plan, they asked what milestones were coming and the wedding without question became that target that was talked about daily.

Karen and Richard have two daughters. Abbey Linton Coppola, a Baylor graduate, is a forensic scientist working on her Master’s degree in Forensic Science at Oklahoma State University. She is married to Sergeant Will Coppola, a U.S. Army veteran who recently completed 10 years of service. Together they live in Wichita, Kansas. Audrey Linton is a junior at Stirling University in Scotland. She is studying criminology and sociology, and is considering a legal career.

Each grandchild had their own special bond with Peggy. She never let a visit go by without pulling them close by the elbow to ask about their dreams, their plans, their hearts, and their lives.

Peggy was an active member of First Baptist Church in Conroe and played piano for her Sunday school class for many years—most recently the Uplifters class. Peggy was always active in church, always helping teach Vacation Bible School and support Gregg and Karen in their youth groups and youth choir activities. Nana lived her faith in quiet, sincere consistency. She extended grace to others, showed compassion, and lived with humility and kindness. Her grandchildren consider her the quintessential example of generosity–regularly going out of her way to give and to serve others. Even in the hospital on a chemo drip, she offered to help with decorations for Garrett’s rehearsal dinner and apologized that she couldn’t do more. Her faith gave her strength, peace, and purpose.

Peggy also had a brilliant mind and a gift for teaching. She taught school for over 25 years, mostly senior English in Pampa and later at Pearland High School. She was known as a tough but caring teacher—one who expected a lot and gave even more. Even after retiring in 1998, she helped former students, her grandchildren—even daughters-in-law—with writing and editing. Teaching wasn’t just her job—it was who she was. Both her children and grandchildren received numerous hours of free – and possibly unsolicited – piano instruction, helping them get memory work done the night before contests and jury deadlines.

If you ever visited the Hallbauer house, you couldn’t miss the infamous yellow legal pads. At any given time, 20–30 of them were scattered throughout the home. They contained everything—ideas, grocery lists, obituary drafts, trip planning, spiritual insights, and family brainstorming sessions. She was a master planner, and the yellow pad was her canvas.

Peggy was also known for her unforgettable birthday cakes—no grandchild’s birthday went by without a unique, hand-decorated cake featuring their birth year. Flavors ranged from Italian cream to Warren’s favorite orange date cake. And on Valentine’s Day, she made magic happen. For years, she crafted individually decorated 4-inch heart-shaped cookies for every child in Gregg and Karen’s classes—with each name piped on perfectly. It’s a tradition Karen proudly carries on today in California.

Peggy loved traveling—especially in the Lazy Days motorhome with Warren. Together, they were part of an RV travel club and hosted many camping trips. Their most cherished destination was Lake City, Colorado, a small town her parents introduced her to in the 1940s. The family cabin, built when Gregg was just a year old, still stands today. Many Christmas trees have been cut down from the surrounding national forest, and generations have watched the Lake City 4th of July parade—making memories that started with Peggy.

In all aspects of her life, Peggy Hallbauer was thoughtful, intelligent, faith-filled, and loving. She gave generously of her time and talents. She made people feel special. She never stopped asking questions, never stopped caring, and never stopped loving deeply.

Her life was full, rich, and meaningful—and we celebrate the incredible blessing it was to be loved by her. We carry her legacy forward in the things she taught us to live with curiosity, to celebrate one another, to follow God with quiet confidence, to love boldly, and maybe—just maybe—to buy a few yellow legal pads of our own.

A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held at First Baptist Church of Conroe on Saturday, April 19, at 10:30 AM with a graveside burial to follow at Garden Park Cemetery. The family invites friends to a visitation at Cashner Funeral Home from 6-8 PM on Friday, April 18.