Col. Maurice Quigley

Colonel Maurice Quigley passed away on June 30, 2022 in Austin, Texas after a short illness. Maurice was born on March 6, 1932 in Wichita, Kansas in a cabin during a blizzard. His family was part of the Irish Travelers, who spoke the language Cant. As customary to their way of life, he attended multiple schools growing up including schools in La Grange, San Antonio, and Austin. He was a devout Catholic since birth and as a young boy served as an altar boy. Maurice worked to both support his immediate family and pay for his schooling at St. Edward’s University High School by working as a soda jerk at Renfro’s Drugstore in the basement of Norwood Tower and at the Buttercrust Bread factory. He lived at a tourist court which was right across Congress Avenue from St. Edward’s. While in high school, Maurice, known as the “Tiger Terror”, was the quarterback of the football team and boxed his way to a Golden Gloves championship. Legend has it that Maurice was once sent out of a Spanish class to wait in the hall for discipline. Upon hearing the principal giving a family a tour of the school, Maurice hid behind a statue of St. Edward. The startled mother said “Who’s that?”, and was told by Brother Bonaventure Foley, “That’s Quigley”. She probably thought a “Quigley” was always kept behind the statue of St. Edward! Fortunately, Maurice graduated in 1950.

He enlisted in the United States Army in 1951, serving as a Private First Class in the 7th Armored Division at Camp Roberts, California and in Germany during the Korean conflict. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1953 where he rose to the rank of Colonel before he was Honorably Discharged in 1982. During that time he commanded the 36th Infantry Division Military Police Detachment at Camp Mabry and served as Battalion Commander in the 71st Airborne Brigade, a round out to the 82nd Airborne Brigade. As Quartermaster Battalion Commander he was a Master Parachutist and Jumpmaster. He earned the equivalent of a master’s degree after studying at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Maurice married the love of his life, Katherine Nell “Tinka” Hughes on June 12, 1952, after hitchhiking home from Camp Roberts with just $65.00 in his pocket. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and citizen of the community. They had six children, 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren and resided in Austin for the next 70 years. Serving as President of both the Westlake High School Booster Club and the Westlake High School Chap Club, they supported Westlake High School from its inception in 1969. They held season tickets to the Chaparral football games for over 40 years and could be found at myriad activities cheering on their children and grandchildren in all their endeavors. When Maurice wasn’t helping out his children in everything from attending track meets to providing a parachute for the Hyline’s dance routine, he could be found on the course at Lost Creek Country Club, of which he was a founding member. He stayed fit playing golf and jogging around the high school track with his kids.

Maurice attended The University of Texas at Austin. During his 64 years in the life insurance industry, Maurice was a Certified Life Underwriter (CLU) while working for Great National Life Insurance Company. Maurice enjoyed being and working with people to make their lives better. He always said, “That while it is a great place to make a living, you cannot place dollar value on service to people.” He was a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, an organization that recognizes the top six percent of all producers in the world. Maurice was president of the Austin chapter of the now National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and was the owner of Quigley Insurance and Financial Services.

Often known as “Quig”, Maurice served the Austin community in many capacities. He was President of the Austin Jaycees in 1966, General Chairman of the 1963 Austin Cavalcade of Commerce, the largest trade show in Central Texas, President of the Fulmore Junior High PTA, President of The Rotary Club of Austin, President of the St. Edward’s Alumni Association, President of the Military Officers Association of America, and President of Marywood Children and Family Services as well as serving on the board of directors for Texas Commerce/Chase Bank. Maurice was also active in his church, serving on many committees in the parishes he attended, and helping to found St. John Neumann Catholic Church. In 2001, Maurice was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of St. Edward’s University. He served as Vice Chair of The Foundation for Religious Studies in Texas, of which he was a founding member.

Maurice was a wonderful father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who was greatly loved and will be missed by all. He’ll be remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor, strive for excellence, and love for all things chocolate, especially dark chocolate and chocolate ice cream. Maurice loved poetry and music. He would often use his faith and poetry to inspire and motivate himself, his children, and his grandchildren. Maurice would often be heard reciting the poems “If” by Rudyard Kipling, “Don’t Quit” by Edgar A. Guest, and “Invictus” by William Earnest Henley. He would even make up poems to give us all a good laugh and break out in song at a moment’s notice! Last, but not least, Maurice will be remembered for his great love of God, his beloved sweetheart, Tinka, his family, and his country.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Marguerite Quigley, and brothers, Chuck and Matt. Maurice is survived by his beloved wife, Katherine (Tinka); his son, Patrick , and children Dustin Quigley and Danielle Cox and husband Justin; his daughter Moira Woody and husband Gordon, and their children Katie Woody and husband Marcelo Sena, Thaddeus Woody and wife Amy, Mary Woody and husband Lance Osborn, and Rebecca Woody and husband Colton Lowden; his son Michael and wife Francine, and daughter Lauren Emter and husband Riley and their children Carter, Weston, and Brodie, and daughter Rachel Reed and husband Trevor; his daughter Ann Quigley and Larry Brandt, and her daughter Dr. Erin Orozco; his daughter Colleen Quigley and her son Riley; and his daughter Sheila Hartman and husband Dewey, and her children Conner Jetton and wife Misty, her daughter Laura Jetton, and her son Clayton Jetton.

Services for Maurice will be Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church followed by a reception from 12:00 to 2:00. A Rosary will precede the funeral at 10:15. Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery at 2:30. Any words of comfort can be left online for the Quigley family at dignitymemorial.com. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the charity of your choice.