Margaret Gilbreath Schneider

It is difficult to describe in words alone the miracle that was Margaret “Meg” Schneider. Meg was an artist, an interior decorator, an entrepreneur, a gardener, a lifelong learner, a Christian, a mother and a grandmother, a wife, a daughter and a daughter-in-law, a sister and a sister-in-law, an aunt, and a loving friend.

This brave, intelligent, kind, generous woman was born on May 14, 1932 in Fort Worth, Texas — the first child of Ed and Geneva Gilbreath. Geneva was only 17 when Margaret was born… practically a child herself. Times were hard — it was right in the middle of the Great Depression. The family grew, and soon Margaret found herself the oldest sibling to three Gilbreath brothers — Bill (who died in 2012), Tommy, and Bobby. The family was not well-off, but both Ed and Geneva were ambitious. Ed worked as an ice delivery man. When he had a business opportunity in the construction scaffolding industry, he grabbed it and moved the family to Houston, Texas. Margaret was in junior high at the time. Over time, Ed’s company became BETCO Scaffolding, one of the most successful businesses of its kind, helping to construct many of the architectural marvels in that rapidly growing city.

From the beginning, Margaret Gilbreath was a beauty and had a sophistication, a gentleness, and a discerning eye that belied the roughness of her upbringing. Her hair, one of the most striking features of her youth and young adulthood, was jet black, like her father’s. Her features were striking yet delicate, often bringing favorable comparisons to movie stars of the day, like Debra Paget and Elizabeth Taylor. She had some health issues, most notably a surgery during her teens that prompted Margaret’s doctor to declare that she was unlikely to ever have children.

One day in 1951 at Decatur Baptist Junior College, Margaret caught the eye of a young athlete named Ken Schneider. Hailing from a cotton farm near the small town of Wilson, Texas, Ken was good at pretty much everything, especially sports. Margaret was a cheerleader. They met on the steps of the grand administration building at the college and quickly fell in love. She called him “Schneider,” like his teammates. After visiting the West Texas cotton farm that Ken worked with his parents and siblings, Margaret accepted his proposal of marriage. As Margaret wrote in Ken’s 1951 yearbook, “Schneider… Thank you for asking me to marry you. I hope you’re not sorry I said yes.” He certainly was never sorry. Margaret brought joy and beauty to Ken’s life. And he dedicated his full energy to her happiness. Very soon, in 1952, they were blessed with the birth of a son — Kenneth Reed Schneider, Jr, whom they called Kenny. Having been told she would never have children, Margaret viewed Kenny’s birth as God’s blessing. The Schneiders lived in Lubbock while Ken finished his degree in accounting at Texas Tech. Margaret also took courses focused on child development. She wanted to be the best mother she could be to Kenny. Living so close to her husband’s parents, Margaret grew close to his entire family – parents Frank and Hulda Schneider and siblings Javan (who died in 2019), Juanell, Jane, and Carolyn.

After graduating college, Ken was hired by a national accounting firm in Houston, so the couple and their growing son moved to the big city that Margaret knew well. Margaret loved having a home. Her home became a testing ground for artistic and design sensibilities which would later flourish.

About 10 years later, in 1963, that doctor from long ago was again proven wrong. Margaret gave birth to another son, Frank John Schneider — named after Ken’s father. Margaret loved the name, but thought it was a bit serious for her new blue-eyed baby, so she nicknamed him “Chip.” Margaret often spoke of taking Chip outside in the springtime air to play in the sun after his bath. She was very active in both children’s lives and schooling.

Margaret and Ken built a beautiful house for their family in 1963 — a very modern home with Margaret’s unique touches throughout. It was an open-concept design, with unified kitchen, dining, living, and entertainment areas, all surrounding a large fireplace that had a groovy sunken seating area in front of it. The family affectionately called this area “the pit.” Margaret loved entertaining in this home and became well-known for inventive parties, like a particularly memorable luau-themed party that featured in-person hula dancers and Hawaiian décor. Supporting Margaret in all these adventures was her dear friend Ethel West. Ethel and Margaret loved each other like trusted sisters and adored one another’s children like their own.

Margaret loved her extended family as well. Many of her siblings’ children thought of their Aunt Margaret as a second mother. She was someone loving, generous, and fun. Even through there was often strife in the Gilbreath family, as there often is in families with competitive siblings and great opportunities for success, Margaret did her best to stay above the fray and to put love and family first.

Margaret, Ken, and their boys often visited Ken’s parents in West Texas, despite the long, 10-hour drive from Houston. Especially in her later years, Margaret would fondly describe those drives as “waltzing across Texas.”

“Waltz across Texas with you in my arms… waltz across Texas with you.

Like a storybook ending I'm lost in your charms… and I could waltz across Texas with you.”

By the 1970’s, with Kenny entering adulthood and getting married, Chip doing well in elementary and then junior high, and her husband Ken advancing in his career, Margaret spread her wings. A truly independent, female entrepreneur — at a time when that was highly unusual — Margaret started exploring and expanding her talents through a series of small businesses. “The Gift Basket” was a source for gourmet fruit and food baskets, overflowing in abundance. Each custom-made, these creations would put today’s mail order companies like Harry & David to shame. “The Finishing Touch” was an interior design company that positioned Margaret in charge of design and décor for banks, offices, and some of the most elegant homes in Houston. And finally, with the help of her husband and some collaborative friends, she opened “Meg’s Cottage” — an antique and gift shop like no other. With its themed rooms for women, men, kids, babies, cooking, and collectibles, Meg’s Cottage had something for everyone. It was a shop that built a loyal following who kept coming back for beautiful new items and the wonderful aroma of spiced tea. Meg’s Cottage also cemented the new nickname she would keep for the rest of her life — “Meg.”

On June 18, 1985, Meg’s husband Ken died suddenly of a heart attack after his morning jog. It was the shock of her life. He was just 56 years old. Meg found her husband — still in his jogging clothes — but it was too late. The love of her life… her dearest companion and helpmate was gone. She mourned him and missed him terribly. She never remarried. Their souls are reunited now, and their bodies will be buried side by side. Meg continued Meg’s Cottage for the next 15 years in his honor.

In 1989, Meg was overjoyed at the birth of her only grandchild, Kendra Schneider. From the very start, Kendra was feisty, sparkling, creative child — characteristics that still describe her as an adult today. Meg was endlessly charmed by Kendra and wanted to indulge and delight her in every way. She viewed Kendra as her legacy, and Kendra adored her “Meggie.”

One of Meg’s most distinctive characteristics was empathy. She was deeply generous, not just with material possessions, but with her feelings and attention — even to people she had only just met. Her terms of endearment — “dear,” “sweet angel,” “baby” — were not just reserved for family, but for nurses, waiters, checkout clerks… anyone who was giving of themselves. Somehow with Meg, these gestures were unquestionably genuine. She always wanted others to know they were noticed and valued.

The 2000s brought a series of health issues, especially two strokes that caused her to be unable to live alone. After the death of her mother in 2011, Meg moved to Austin to be near her son Chip. In Austin, Meg’s life was enriched by some of the most exceptionally talented, kind, and motivating caregivers who have ever lived, especially vivacious Leotha Black and ever gracious Tammy Shabazz. Their advocacy for Meg and support for her well-being will be remembered by her family forever.

On Wednesday, August 19 just before 5:00pm, after a two-week battle with pneumonia, Meg took her final breaths. Her family — her sons Ken (now a psychologist) and Chip (now the creative director for WellSky), her granddaughter Kendra, and her beloved daughter-in-law Shelley — all around her. She was a magnificent person… and deeply loved.

Thank you for celebrating this amazing woman with us. You are loved, too.

A celebration of Meg’s life and influence will be held on Saturday August 22, 2020 at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX. Funeral. Visitation begins at 2:00pm. A socially-distanced service with face masks required will begin at 3:00pm. The service will also be streamed online for friends and family who can’t attend in person. Please visit dignitymemorial.com and search for “Margaret Gilbreath Schneider” for details on the in-person and online services. A second service will be held on Wednesday August 26 at the First Baptist Church in Wilson, Texas. Meg will be buried in Green Memorial Park Cemetery next to her husband Ken.