Emma Caroline (EC) Schaefer Frisbie passed on at her home January 6, 2015, in the company of family. She was born at Chanute Field, Illinois, on December 15, 1926. She married Ezra Clark Frisbie, a DeWitt County rancher and barber, in 1948.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents Grace Hofheinz and Christian J.H. Schaefer, Sr.; her brother Christian J.H. Schaefer, Jr., and wife Lola; sister Joan Cavanaugh; and nieces Carleen Bodden and JoCarol Schaefer Hall.
She is survived by nephews Lt. Col. (Ret) Michael Cavanaugh and wife Barbara, Cuero; Christian J.H. Schaefer, III and wife Kathleen, Wimauma, Fl.; and nephew-in-law Nix. O. Bodden and wife Beth Zimplemann, Wimberley, TX; nieces Elizabeth Holder and husband Darrell, Snellville, GA; Jean Marie Schaefer, Colorado Springs, CO.; Maureen Howell and husband John, Austin, TX. She is also survived by nephews of her husband, Clark Frisbie of Georgia and Parker Frisbie of Yorktown; and her cousin Lee Roy Menning and wife MaryAnn of Victoria.
Also, great niece Kelly Cavanaugh Nader and husband Denton Gingrich, and great-great nephews Austin and Nicholas Nader; great nieces Sarah Holder; AriElla Turiya Anaies and daughter Rachael Bradshaw and son Marius Schaefer; great nephew Stuart Bodden and wife Emily, daughter Isabel and son Samuel; Joshua Bodden and daughter Eliza; great niece Keya Schaefer Traylor and husband Aaron and son Zachary.
EC attended Texas State College for Women and began her career as a social worker with the Texas State Department of Public Welfare in Cuero, where she visited clients in a 4-county area chaperoned by her mother-in-law. She later graduated with a BSW degree from the University of Texas at Austin and received her Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University in 1970.
She then returned to the Texas State Department of Public Welfare in Austin as the Assistant to the agency's Medical Director, where she developed protocols still in use and entered the digital age by coordinating the DPW’s first contract with Electronic Data Systems.
EC and her husband were long time residents of Dewitt County. She loved ranching, raising Hanoverian horses, competing in dressage events, and she continued riding into her 70's. She “could effortlessly hitch a horse trailer on the first try, every time.” She greatly enjoyed the Victoria Orchid Club; in recent years cultivating orchids, antique roses, and Texas native plants was her passion. She believed in living in harmony with nature, not subduing it, and shared her home with many dogs and cats over the years. She enjoyed driving her white Corvette in her earlier years and her silver BMW Z3 in her later years. EC faithfully voted Republican, avidly read the Wall Street Journal and local newspapers, diligently worked crossword puzzles, and explored the Internet on her laptop until the week of her passing.
She enjoyed traveling the world with her dear friend Betty “Moi” Cook of Dallas. She cherished her friendships with Gloria Canales and Billy Clyne, Cuero; Maria Alvarado, Hallettsville; horseman Thom Hardy, Florida; and the late Mike Zeplin, orchid grower extraordinaire, Victoria.
She also cherished Dr. Jennifer Gonzales and the nurses of Hospice of South Texas, including Jennifer Allen, Brynn Foulds, Terri Hicks, Janice Podolak, and others who gave her loving care for an extended time. The family are deeply grateful to all these friends.
A private memorial celebrating EC’s life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of South Texas or the Cuero Public Library.
You may send condolences or sign the guest book at www.freundfuneralhome.com.
Freund Funeral Home, 361-275-2343, Cuero.
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