Mary "Beth" Elizabeth Gammage

She moved to Brownwood, Texas when she was four. She graduated from Brownwood High School and Howard Payne College where she earned her Teacher’s Certificate in 1941. She was named one of the beauties during her junior year.

In 1942, she married Lieutenant Ernie Gammage, who was stationed in Camp Bowie, Texas, during World War II. Upon Ernie’s release in 1945 from active duty in the Finance Department of the Army, they moved back to Ernie’s home town of Houston where they lived thereafter. They were married almost 58 years before his death in 2000.

Ernie was the Executive Vice-President of the Pan American Fire and Casualty Companies until the company was sold to Ranger Insurance Companies in 1968. As the business grew, they formed a team, entertaining clients from Texas and the southeast United States. Throughout their lives together, they enjoyed an exceptionally rich and rewarding social life, enjoying life-long friendships across the country and world.

Beth was a devoted and loving mother to her three children, Ernie, Amanda and Phil Gammage. She was active in her children’s activities, serving as Cub Scout, Brownie Leader and in many capacities during her children’s years in the Houston school system as well as other volunteer efforts.

She was a talented musician and lover of music of almost any kind. She sang throughout high school in Glee Clubs, solo work, and sang and acted in plays and programs. She was a member of the Howard Payne Trio during her College years. Later she was a choir member in the Trinity Episcopal and St. John the Divine Episcopal Church choirs. She passed this talent on to her children and grandchildren. She and Ernie were tremendously supportive of their sons’ musical careers and spent many a night up late in clubs in Texas and New York.

Beth was a member of the River Oaks Country Club, the Colony Club, the Ladies’ Auxiliary Colonneh Club, of which she served as President, and former member of The Tanglewood Garden Club and The Bastrop Marching and Chowder Society.

She was a loving grandmother and great grandmother to Gina Gammage Edens, John Booth Gammage, Troupe Earnest Gammage IV, Clayton Howard Bartholomew, Keeva Beth Gammage Bartholomew, Christa Rose Gammage, Grant Avery Edens, Zachary Earnest Edens and Aven Lee Gammage.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Cleveland McDonough and Mary Amanda Dozier McDonough; her brothers, James Thomas McDonough and Joe C. McDonough; and her beloved husband, T. Earnest Gammage, Jr.

She is survived by Ward N. Adkins, a very important person in her life; son, Ernie Gammage III and his wife, Stephanie; daughter, Amanda Gammage, all of Austin; son, Phil Gammage and his wife, Claudia, of New York City; grandchildren, Gina Edens and her husband, Rod Edens III, John Gammage and his wife, Susan, Troupe Gammage, Clay Bartholomew, Keeva Bartholomew, all of Austin and, Christa Gammage, of New York City; and her three great-grandchildren, Grant and Zach Edens, and Aven Gammage, all of Austin. Beth is also survived by her brother’s wife, Blossom, of Brady, Texas; and three nephews, Rob McDonough of Santa Monica, California, and Dr. Fred McDonough of Brady, Texas.

The memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 22nd of September, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Martin J. Bastian is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Beth’s name may be directed to TIRR Foundation, 4605 Post Oak Place, Ste. 222, Houston, TX, 77056; or to the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 900 Portway, Houston, TX, 77024.