Lilllie "Lil" Freida Walters

Lillie Frieda Meyer was gifted from God on November 19,1924 to Fred and Alma Meyer and was Baptized into the Christian faith on January 25, 1925. On June 23, 1940 Lil confirmed her faith in Jesus at Trinity Lutheran Church Beasley, TX and graduated from Richmond High School May 22,1942. As a child Lil grew up farming in Needville, TX with one sister (Lenora) and two brothers (Otto and Albert). Her memory of the farm was happy and stories of picking cotton, making sausage, working in the garden, and canning were cherished memories. Her knowledge of farming never ceased. She could grow any plant she wanted, green and beautiful, and had no problem reviving some of the plants we managed to ruin.

In time Lil moved to Houston, TX where she would meet her husband, Ralph Walters (Sr). The two were married on August 4, 1946 in LaGrange , TX but continued to live in Houston where they were blessed with three children Diana (Matthews) Ralph Jr. and Shirley (Madsen). The family eventually moved to Rockdale , TX where they spent a great deal of their early life together. It was in Rockdale that Mom and Dad started a business together. Mom was the true "energizer bunny" spending many long hours of untiring energy helping to make their business a success.

After the children left home to pursue their livelihoods, Dad was called by our Lord to enter into the Holy Ministry. Out of Seminary Mom and Dad moved to Palicios, TX where Dad served as Pastor to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Mom right by his side. One of her hardest jobs, among many, was to hand type the bulletins for each Sunday - one at a time.

Benefited by serving a coastal church, Mom and Dad were able to fish the bays or off the dock when they weren't serving the church. The family had grown by then, seven grandchildren in all, and the families all loved to visit and go fishing. Not only could Mom catch fish with the best of them but she could filet and fry them better than anyone. To this day we still don't know how she could cut such a perfect filet with such a dull filet knife. But she did. One of her many skills. And stories of her perfectly broiled flounder and crab are still a cherished conversation when the grandchildren are gathered around a good meal!

Mom was an amazing cook as well. Martha Stewart had nothing on Lil. She would make the best cream pies, whipping that 3 inch meringue by hand to perfection. At the church bake sales Mom would received calls beforehand and her pies were sold out before they even made it to the church. Her cookies were famous too. Mom and Dad raised a good family but we would fight over the cookies! She always knew just how much icing to drizzle on each one. And of course, we can't forget the always requested banana pudding and pear pie. Those recipes are still in the family winning over church potlucks to this day.
In retirement Mom and Dad moved to Rockport, Texas to go after the big reds! Everyone would still visit and Mom would still filet the fish we caught. Not too many years later though, Mom and Dad moved to Elgin and then Atlanta, TX but would eventually purchase some acreage on a mountain across from the Lampasas River and settle down to enjoy God's creation and go hunting. Dad would shoot the deer and Mom knew just how to fry it.

Praise to Jesus. Lillie is in heaven. We glorify our Savior for our time with her, the faith in Jesus she and Dad passed down to the family and the fact that she is now securely in His presence!

Lillie Frieda Walters is survived by sister Lenora Oberhoff, three children: Diana ( Walters) Mathews, Ralph Walters Jr. and wife Pat, Shirley (Walters) Madsen and husband Gary; seven grandchildren: Staci Gauny and husband Ronnie, Wendy Arledge and husband Troy, Chad Walters, Travis Mathews, Jeffrey Scott Mathews, Rev. Luke Madsen and wife Darcy, Kyle Madsen and wife Lauri and 12 great-grandchildren. In addition, God blessed Lillie with many nieces and nephews and an abundance of special friends and acquaintances.

A visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday, February 3, 2014, Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home. A Celebration of Lil's Life will be held 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 4, 2013, Grace Lutheran Church-Elgin. Graveside Services will be held 2:30 PM Tuesday, LaGrange Cemetery.