Ethelynn Beebe
Florence Ethelynn Beebe
04 May 1943 - 11 Oct 2018
Clubs & Associations
Obituary
F. Ethelynn Beebe, (fondly known as Grammy Effee by friends and family) passed away unexpectedly Thursday, October 11, 2018.
Ethelynn was born May 4, 1943 in Kermit, Texas. Although her parents lived in New Mexico, her father, determined she would be a native Texan, drove her pregnant mother across the Texas border to give birth. She was the first child of Margie and Osmer Beebe.
Ethelynn earned a Ph.D. in social work and business administration at the University of Texas in Arlington. She spent most of her professional career at the Health and Human Services Commission. From there she went to the Austin State Hospital where she was the Director of Budget and Finances, responsible for a multi-million dollar operating budget. After her retirement Ethelynn became a consultant at the national level for the Girl Scouts of America.
She was a member of the Executive Women in Texas Government, on various Austin boards, community organizations, the Human Rights Campaign and Austin Building and Standards Commission. Ethelynn was an advocate for positive change and social justice. She was an active member of the Tapestry Singing Group. She was a facilitator of Second Sunday, a popular social club and the Frayser Girls, friends from high school, who meet yearly for various adventures at different locations throughout the United States.
She loved books, music (playing piano and singing), Women's UT Basketball, theater, her cats (all cats), spending time with family and travelling with her wife and friends. Sailing was a special adventure and she went downhill skiing at Winter Park with a regular group of friends until she "blew out" her knees and made that last trip down in a rescue snowmobile. Up until the time of her death, she faithfully rode her stationary bike, travelling at least once around the world. She loved playing games with friends, especially Farkle and poker and she always won!
Ethelynn loved life and always saw the good in people. She was encouraging, generous in spirit and warm. Her smile lit up the room and she was always the best person to sit next to at a party nursing her rum and diet coke in a pint size with extra limes. Ethelynn leaves behind a legacy of friends.
Ethlynn is survived by Susan Morgan, her wife of 26 years, brother Duane Beebe, sister-in-law Libby Beebe, nephew Darrin Beebe and niece Karrin Young, stepdaughters Amy Doezema (husband Tad), Kat Morgan (husband Jeff Toney) stepson Michael Morgan, grandchildren Kai and Kiera Toney and Lucy Doezema, grandnephew Chase Beebe and her dearest close friend, Peggy Garrison.
Services will be held on Tuesday, October 16th at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, (512) 452-8811. There will be a Viewing from 11:00 to 12:45 with Service to begin at 1:00. There will be a reception following the service at the Towers of Town Lake, 40 North IH-35, First Floor, Piano Room.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following charities: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF.org/Austin (512) 343-0663, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research, Komen.org, (512) 473-0900 or Girls Scouts of America, Girlscouts.org (800) 733-0011.[1]
Memorial Panel
- 4UR | Lone Star Lambdas
Photos
At Chi-Town Shakedown, 2010
Obituary photo
