Margaret Becker

January 18, 1942-January 10, 2022

Margaret “Candy” Gray Becker, 79, died on Monday, January 10, 2022 of complications from pneumonia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eric B. Becker III, and her parents, Jack and Margaret Gray. She is survived by her daughters Margaret and Mary Pauline Lowry, their husbands Andy Bradshaw and George Dickinson, her grandsons Charlie and Jay Bradshaw, her brother Jack Gray and his wife Staley Gray, her sister Chica Younger, and a wonderful group of nieces, nephews, stepchildren, and stepgrandchildren.

Candy, a native Austinite, was born on January 18, 1942. She attended Bryker Woods Elementary, O.Henry Junior High, and the old Austin High (now the Rio Grande campus of Austin Community College). Candy was a Plan II major at the University of Texas at Austin and exhibited a keen intellectual curiosity throughout her life. An active member of Pi Beta Phi while at UT, she distinguished herself by climbing out the window at midnight to meet her second date of the evening. She studied abroad in Spain, where she entered the ring as Matador facing a bull calf and woke up in the barn after being knocked unconscious.

After graduation Candy worked as a staff writer for the Austin American Statesman and wrote a regular column called “Of Cabbages and Queens.” Candy loved the community of “newspaper people,” as she called them, and she thrived on the noise and bustle of the newsroom. During her career she interviewed notables such as Octavio Paz. Candy also worked for many years for the Texas Comptroller’s Office and was subsequently a great fan of Bob Bullock and his aide, Tony Proffitt.

Candy’s marriage to Eric B. Becker III transformed her life. They were a magical match, and they adored each other. After her marriage to Eric, Candy spent her time caring for her family, developing her artistic skills, reading voraciously, volunteering for local nonprofits, and cooking dinner for Eric. She was a devoted mother to Margaret and Mary Pauline, and one of her proudest accomplishments was the fact that her daughters “turned out.” Candy was an artist in all areas of her life–clothing, home decor, party planning and decoration. She created art in many different media, including needlework, quilting, watercolor, acrylics, mosaic, and clay–she even transformed her garage into a work of art.

Candy was a consummate traveler who spent time in Mexico, Guatemala, Japan, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Spain, England, and Ireland. She didn’t just visit places. Before her trips she spent months researching the history and culture of her destinations; during her trips she spent hours combing local markets for pottery, rugs, sculptures, and paintings.

Candy participated in many Austin organizations, including the Open Forum, Friends of Folk Art, MexicArte, and UT’s OLLI SAGE program. She was an animal lover who had a particular fondness for Golden Retrievers. Eric’s last gift to her was a Golden Retriever named Bowwow, who has remained her faithful companion.

Candy struggled with bipolar disorder throughout her life but refused to be defeated by it. Her creativity, enthusiasm, energy, intelligence, and generosity attracted people to her, and she had a wide circle of devoted family and friends. Even in the deepest depths of her illness, she persevered through sheer determination and force of will. For her daughters she serves as a role model for inexhaustible creativity, loyalty, toughness, and grit in confronting life’s challenges and heartbreaks.

One of Candy’s lifelong dreams was to live out her life in her home. She was able to do so thanks to a loving community of friends, doctors, and caregivers, including Dr. Bobby Cantu, Ina Picarello, Greg Patterson, Chelly Green, Dorothy Smith, Jenny Booth, and Susan Green.

The funeral service and committal of ashes will be held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church (209 W 27th St.) on Thursday, March 31 at 10:30 AM. A reception in the parish hall will immediately follow. In honor of Candy, please consider wearing your favorite huipil or guayabera and bringing your favorite Candy story or photograph. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to All Saints’ Episcopal Church’s Endowment Fund.