Obituary of Marie Louise Endres

Muenster Texas: A Memorial Mass for Marie Louise Walter Endres of Muenster, Texas was held January 21st at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr. Ken Robinson as celebrant. A Rosary/vigil service led by Fr. Ken was held Sunday at Sacred Heart Church. Marie died peacefully on Thursday January 10th, at the age of 92. One of the 10 children of John and Susanna Trachta Walter. Marie Louise Walter was born August 20, 1920 in Muenster and was raised on the family farm east of town. She and her brothers and sisters went to Sacred Heart School, to which they walked from the farm. It was on the farm that she learned many of the home management skills which she put to use her entire life. Marie was a person who not afraid of change. She worked in Fort Worth a few years before marrying Paul Endres in 1940, joining him in regional dances, in the Muenster Motorcycle Club, and in the Catholic Youth Organization, where Paul was president. They began their married life on a farm west of town. They welcomed seven children and celebrated 63 anniversaries. In 1953, the family moved into town, to the house on Seventh Street, and developed a small farm of cows, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and children. Marie supervised the household, planted a large garden, began a lifelong labor of establishing flowers in the yard, and immersed herself in school and community events, and in mentoring 4-H and Scout projects. She earned a trip to Washington D.C., as a result of her work with the 4-H organization. Marie and Paul believed in reading and in education, making sure the children were educated as far as they wanted to go. Marie was highly skilled as creating and sewing her children’s clothing, at quilting, and at teaching those skills to others. She excelled at supporting the household through baking, canning, growing a large garden, and managing the yard animals. Dancing, card games, and travelling were her special delights. She organized, and was a member of her weekly bridge club for over 50 years. No one was allowed to interrupt bridge club. As her children grew and left home, Marie found time to pursue new interests. Her flower gardens surrounded the yard, and she won many first prizes in flower arranging, eventually becoming a state flower judge. She began singing in the church choir and performing with Cooke County Chorale, which included a performance in Europe. She also took up painting. Many of her artworks hang in homes throughout Muenster. The house on Seventh Street was for 55 years a house full of children, grandchildren, other people’s children, friends and neighbors, ball games in the yard, the smell of cinnamon rolls baking, and love. Presiding over it all was the genius of the house, Marie Louise Walter Endres, who most of the time unfazed and unflappable, took everything in stride and made that house a home. Survivors include children Clifford (Selhan), Karen, Patricia (Richard) Fiske, John (Nancy), Richard (Martha Kincaid, deceased) Mary (George) Holland, Peggy (Larry) Abeln; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters Rose Hofbauer, Sylvia Everette, and Genie O’Dowd; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Honorary pallbearers were Nathan Endres, Eric Endres, Peter Endres, Prairie Endres, Parnell, Emelia Endres Kirk, Samantha Abeln, Jana Abeln and Andrea Abeln. Donations may be made to Sacred Heart Church or to the Muenster Museum.