Olga Miller Zauner

Olga Miller Zauner, affectionately known as Granny Bird, age 98, of Austin, TX died Friday, March 28, 2014. She is preceded in death by her loving husband John Hudson Zauner. He was an Engineer, who worked at Tracor, Inc. as a Group VP before retiring.

Olga was born in Washington D.C., elder daughter of David Ralph Miller and Ruth Andresen Miller. She graduated from George Washington University with a BS in Zoology. Later she worked as a cytology tech in Connecticut.

Olga did a lot of volunteer work; the most memorable was the Johnson City Library and the Garden and Lawn Rotary Guild. She was named a Yellow Rose of Texas on 10/17/1984 and Proclamations were signed by Mayor Charles Matus of Johnson City and Judge Kent Smith of Blanco County making 3/21/1982 Olga Zauner Day.

Olga was an artist. She expressed her artistry through drawing, painting and hand crafts. She loved stitchery, sewing, knitting, soft doll making, and lace making, both bobbin and needle lace. Her stitchery skills included Needlepoint, Cross Stitch, Blackwork, Hardanger and samplers of all types. She was a talented artist who studied with several nationally known artists/teachers including Gustav Likan who taught at Laguna Gloria. She painted in watercolors, acrylics and pastels.

She was a member of the Johnson City Art Guild, Monday Group, Austin Stitchery Guild, Embroiderers Guild of America, Austin Lace Makers, International Old Lacers Inc., Soft Doll Club of Austin, Daughters of the King, The Danish Rebild Society, and the Hallmark Keepsake Collectors Club.

She had an eye for collecting; some of her favorite things were antique boxes, angels, bears, dolls, antique lace and stitchery, antique sewing tools and boxes, and books. She was an excellent cook and made dishes from her Danish Ancestry. She loved baking and made wonderful pie crust. Every Christmas she made favorite treats for family and friends.

She lived in Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California and Venezuela with her husband and children. After the children left home she and her husband lived in Connecticut and lastly, Texas. She lived in Texas about 50 years. Over the years she traveled widely. One of her favorite trips was to China, where she went with her daughter Penny and her long-time friend Margy Oshry of San Antonio.

She is preceded by her sister Jean M. Aylor - Falls Church VA, and daughter Patricia Ann Miskimon Laws -Denver. She is survived by Penelope MacIntyre (David) - Cape Coral, FL, Pamela Zauner – Austin. Her grandchildren: David Miskimon (Debbie) – Lakewood, CO and their children, Timothy, Donald (Melanie and sons Seth, Draven and daughter Illyria), Carol Peck (Sean and son Nick and daughter Angelina), Denisha Miskimon (son Ash), Steve and Amanda; Barbara Clint (David) – Denver (son Benjamin); Linda Charbonneau – Littleton CO (daughter Brooke and son Joey); and Paul Miskimon – Denver; John MacIntyre (LouAnn) – Nederland CO and their daughters Jessica Mahoney (Joe and son Caleb), and Sarah Pingle (Ian); Laura Shaw (Rich) – Lebanon NJ and their daughters Clara Salzberg (Alex and daughter Eliza), Emily, Margaret and Anna.

That is 6 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

Her memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m. on April 26, 2014 at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home located at 9700 Anderson Mill Rd, Austin.