Louise W Ware

Louise “Looie” Ware, 87, former Mayor of Bellaire, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 24, 2015. She was the first born of Vaughn Edgar Wilson, former City Attorney of Lubbock, Texas, and his wife, Mary Glass Wilson.

Looie grew up in Lubbock, and was looking forward to being the editor of Lubbock High’s newspaper “Western World”, but finished her last year of high school in Austin due to her father serving as the attorney for the Texas Railroad Commission. She then entered the University of Texas, at the age of 16, where she earned a BA in Medical Technology in 1948.

While at UT Looie met her future husband and silent partner, Henry Ware, who was a returning WWII B17 pilot and former German prisoner of war. He caught her eye as he was older and more mature than the other boys in college.

Henry brought Looie to Houston, and they were married September 7, 1949. She began working in the lab at Jeff Davis Hospital in Houston until 1953. She then turned her full attention to motherhood and homemaking.

Henry and Louise moved to Jaquet Dr. in Bellaire in 1953 with their first two children, and another two were added by 1959. It was with her children and their activities that her passions and energies were committed. She was involved with the Houston Speech and Hearing Center Auxiliary, a scout leader to two troops as well as Director on the San Jacinto Girl Scout board, a den mother to two Boy Scout dens, baseball coach, swim instructor, first aide instructor, canoeing and sailing instructor, and PTA member at both Cunningham Elementary and Bellaire High School. Louise was active in Potpourri and Gumbo Grubbers garden clubs, an avid bridge player and crossword puzzle fanatic, as well as orchestrating many a progressive dinner. She always had a project going, being it knitting socks for her husband, or baby booties, sewing dresses for her daughters and jams for her sons, crocheting, doing needlepoint, or macramé.

As Louise’s children grew, her interests diversified. She became interested in the City of Bellaire and its future. She could see that not only was it a city of families but it also needed guided economic growth to retain its uniqueness. Thus began her career in politics and other areas of interest that would benefit in the development of Bellaire.

Louise was a City Councilwoman before she became the first woman Mayor of Bellaire. Following her term as mayor, she was appointed to the Metro Board representing the small cities in Houston. Interwoven in her political career, she was involved with the Bellaire Bicentennial Commission, Texas Municipal League, Harris County Mayors’ and Councilmen’s Association, Bellaire Historical Society, Advisory Committee to the University of Houston Continuing Education Program Women in Government, Bellaire American Heart Association, Friends of the Bellaire Library, Governing Board of Bellaire General Hospital, Bellaire Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce, Bellaire Tax Increment Financing District Board, Northgate Crossing Municipal Utilities District Board, West University Republican Women’s Club, Houston Transit Forum Co-Chairman, Annual Bellaire Antique Festival Chairman, Bellaire Police Training Advisory Board, Bellaire Economic Advisory Council, Harris County Historical Commission, Houston Area Library System, and on the Shared Decision Management Making Committee at Condit Elementary.

Louise’s honors include: the Girl Scouts Thanks Badge, Chamber of Commerce “Mr. Bellaire” Award 1982, Distinguished Director Service Award, “Something Special Award”, and Honorary Lifetime Chamber Member. Along with these awards, Louise had the prestigious honor of having the Bellaire Metro Transit Center named after her and, along with her husband, Henry, the Jaquet pocket park was renamed the Ware Family Park. But her most outstanding honor was being Meema to her eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Louise is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years Henry, brothers Ben Lee Wilson and James Amos Wilson. She is survived by her children, Cyndy Pare’ and husband Jimmy of Liberty, Hank Ware and wife Linda of Bellaire, Pam Emerson and husband Chuck of Houston, and Amos Ware and wife Marta of Meadows Place; grandchildren: George Crawford, Bobby Crawford and partner Shannon Gonzalez, Andrew Pare’, Molly Ware, Emily Pare’, Mary Emerson, Shane Ware, Anne Emerson-Gutierrez and husband Daniel; great-grandchildren: Cheryl Bontje, Jessica Kaluza, Jimmy Crawford, Rilyn Pare’, and Arianna Kaluza. She is also survived by her brother Vaughn Edgar Wilson II and wife Pat, sister-in-law Barbara C. Wilson, brother-in-law Stephen Ware and wife Jean, niece Patti Richards and husband Tom Hogle, and an immense family of nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank ComforCare, Inc. and Compassionate Care Hospice for the care and kindness shown to our mother for the past 6 years.

An 11:30am Memorial Service for Louise W. Ware will be held Saturday, the 9th of May at Levy Funeral Directors, 4525 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX, with Reverend Michael Gott of Unity of Houston officiating. A reception will follow. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family asks that donations be made to the Friends of the Bellaire Library, PO Box 2576, Bellaire, TX 77402 or a charity of your choice.