Margaret Alline Morris Craig

Margaret Alline Morris Craig, a resident of the Austin area since 1939, went home to be with her Lord and Savior at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2003. Mrs. Craig was born on April 12, 1913, near Huntsville in Walker County, Texas. She was the third of four children and the only daughter of James Walter and Ethel Arrine Thompson Morris. She spent her youth in Huntsville, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church, graduated from Huntsville High School as valedictorian of her class, and attended Sam Houston State Teacher's College - now known as Sam Houston State University. Margaret Craig was a strong woman with a strong faith. She married when she was 20 and had a daughter, Barbara, but the marriage failed. To support her child and widowed mother, Mrs. Craig went to work as a court reporter, earning 50 cents a day. God then ordained a series of circumstances that enabled Mrs. Craig to better provide for her family. She was hired to work for the manager of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. He soon arranged for her to take a job in the Texas Secretary of State's office in Austin when he himself became executive secretary to the Governor. The job was supposed to only be temporary, and although it meant leaving her young daughter and mother behind in Huntsville for a while, it also promised substantially more money than Mrs. Craig could have earned in Huntsville. She felt that the opportunity in Austin was God's provision for her, so she decided to make the move. Mrs. Craig moved to Austin in January, 1939. Her mother and daughter joined her within two years. Her "temporary" position was destined to last for 18 years. Three weeks into her employment with the Secretary of State, Mrs. Craig received a call from the governor's office, asking her to do secretarial work for newly elected Governor W. Lee O'Daniel. She served as secretary to Governor O'Daniel and as executive secretary to the next three governors, Coke Stevenson, Beauford Jester, and Allan Shivers, from January, 1939, to January, 1957. (Mrs. Craig was asked by the next two governors, Price Daniel and John Connally, to work for them, but declined. She also declined an opportunity to be appointed Secretary of State.) Mrs. Craig continued to work for Governor Shivers when he left the governor's office to enter private business, until her retirement in 1963. Following her retirement, Mrs. Craig pursued her interest in genealogy, researching and writing "Kith and Kin," a history of the Morris family. In later years, she also wrote "Capitol Views," a series of reminiscences of her career in state government. She was a skilled writer, an avid reader and book collector, a lover of art and music, and an accomplished pianist and organist. She was fond of animals, both wild and domestic, owning a horse as a child, raising Siamese cats, and in later years living with two devoted dogs, a Miniature Dachshund named Scooter and a Miniature Schnauzer named Gretchen. Margaret met Richard Harrison Craig at the State Capitol while he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives. They were married at the First United Methodist Church on June 20, 1947. Mr. Craig was an attorney for Small, Small & Craig, which later became Small, Small, Craig & Werkinthin. After a brief residence in Abilene, Texas, the Craigs became long-time residents of the Tarrytown area and faithful members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church. After Mr. Craig's death in February, 1984, Mrs. Craig continued to live in their home until early 2001, when she moved to Pflugerville to be near her daughter. Family and friends joined Mrs. Craig earlier this year in celebrating her 90th birthday. Those who knew and loved her can attest to her deep faith, devotion to family, strength of character, compassion and generosity, and firmness and determination. Mrs. Craig had a close relationship with the Lord. Her faith was fueled by her Bible reading. As her eyes began to fail, she read a large-print Bible with a magnifying glass and a strong light. Even after she could no longer read, she went to bed with her Bible beside her. She taught Sunday School for many years and led missionary studies. In one of her lesson preparations, she wrote, "We will have succeeded as Christians when the reflection comes back in some degree the image of Christ." Those who knew Mrs. Craig saw that image in her. Not long after her husband died, Mrs. Craig wrote a song called "Going Home" about leaving this life for the next one. Her heart was prepared, and she was ready to die so that she might go home to be with her heavenly Father. Her family rejoices for her that she is now in His presence. Margaret Craig was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her eldest brother, R.E. Morris. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Ledbetter of Pflugerville; four grandchildren, William B. Ledbetter, Jr. of Leander, Craig A. Ledbetter of Ballincollig, County Cork, Ireland, and Kathleen E. Ehrlich and Paul M. Ledbetter, both of Pflugerville; fifteen great grandchildren; two brothers, William O. (Jack) Morris of Longview and James W. Morris of Austin; and three nephews and one niece. Visitation hours will be from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. You are invited to join the family in a celebration of Mrs. Craig's life, both the old and the new, at her funeral service at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2003 with Pastor Jim Brannen officiating. Burial to follow at Austin Memorial Park. Honoring her as pallbearers will be Bill Ledbetter, Paul Ledbetter, Jerry Erlich, Travis Eugene Myers, Micah Ledbetter and Josiah Ledbetter. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials at www.wcfish.com