Merle B. Strahan
Merle B. Strahan, 94, died Oct. 23, 2010. A descendent of Burnet County pioneers, she was born May 12, 1916, in Lake Victor to Rufus Silas “Dude” Bowden and Willie (Jones) Bowden.
Her roots in Burnet County ran deep. She was a great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Garrett, and granddaughter of Ryburn Bowden and Mary Catherine Garrett, all pioneers of the Lake Victor Community in the 1870s.
She was a great-granddaughter of Stephen Francis Jones and Martha Alice Bible, and granddaughter of George Newton Jones and Mary Belle Singleton, all pioneers of the Sage Community in the 1870s.
She married JC “Jake” Strahan, who preceded her in death on April 12, 1992. She met him him when he came to Burnet in the late 1930s to work as an auditor for the Works Progress Administration at the Longhorn Cavern site.
After their marriage in Burnet in 1941, he became a businessman and was elected mayor of Burnet in April 1971.
He later was appointed to the board of the Lower Colorado River Authority and served as a member and chairman during the 1970s. They were faithful Christians and longtime members of the Vanderveer Street Church of Christ in Burnet.
She was a superb homemaker and wonderful seamstress who made many of her own clothes and dressed her daughters as well. She was a tireless caregiver to her parents, her sister Elton, brother Malvin and husband.
Survivors include daughters Sandra Turner and husband Tom and Sharon K. Cravens and husband Ron, all of Burnet; grandchildren Kelly Turner Tefertiller and husband Steve of Flower Mound, Mark Turner and wife Diane of Austin, Zachary Cravens and wife Jennifer of Round Rock, Jesse Cravens and wife Amy of Boerne, and Kasey Cravens Grewe and husband Jason of San Antonio; and great-grandchildren Shannon Tefertiller, Peyton Tefertiller, Cole Cravens, Molly Cravens, Carter Cravens, Lindley Cravens and Emma Grewe.
A visitation is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26 at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 Texas 29 in Burnet, (512) 756-2222.
A funeral service is 2 p.m. at the Vanderveer Street Church of Christ with Tim Denton officiating.
Interment will follow at the Burnet City Cemetery.
Pallbearers include Mark Turner, Steve Tefertiller, Jason Grewe, Zachary Cravens, Jesse Cravens, and Jim Myers. James Herbort was named an honorary pallbearer.
Memorial contributions can be made to an organization or charity of choice.
The family thanks the Oaks Nursing Home, Bertram Nursing and Rehabilitation, Dr. Milton Shepperd and Texas Home Health Hospice.
A memorial register is available at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.