Maisie Pledger

Maisie Louellen Pledger, 85, passed away January 26, 2015 in Bryan. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, January 29, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Church, with Pastors Matthew Jacobs and William Holzer officiating. Burial will take place in Prairie Lea Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Louellen Pledger was born November 11, 1929 in Iraan, Texas to Jay D. and Sidney Elizabeth Halbert McBrayer. Her father''s job moved the family to Houston when she was 7 years old. Graduating with honors from Lamar High School, she attended Rice University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in English and minor in French. Louellen began her teaching career at Horn Elementary in Houston. In order to be close to her parents, Louellen moved her young family to Brenham. There, she taught elementary, junior high, and high school. In 1965, she obtained her Master''s Degree in English from Sam Houston State Teachers College. Not one for retiring, Louellen continued her love for education, teaching at Blinn College during the mid 1990''s. Her teaching career spanned many years in Brenham, and she is fondly remembered by countless students whose lives she influenced in the most positive way. Louellen selflessly served her community, and worked tirelessly with the Volunteer Services Council at Brenham State Supported Living Center. She was also an active member in the Fortnightly Club of Brenham. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law John E. Pledger III and wife Ann of Bryan, and Jay M. Pledger and wife Jan of Brenham; grandchildren: Emily Moran and husband Jacob of Dallas, Caroline Garry and husband Benjamin of Houston, Margaret Grauke and husband Ole of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Rebecca Turk and husband Christopher of Florence, South Carolina; great-granddaughters Ilana Pearl Grauke, and Havilah Neil Grauke. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a son, James Rector Pledger. Serving as pallbearers are Owen Zeiss, Rodney Weiss, Jeffery Zeiss, Stephen Stuckert, Jim Plummer, Stanley Sommer, Billy Holle, and Bill Nutt. Members of the Fortnightly Club will be honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be directed to Blinn College Foundation, c/o Maisie Louellen Pledger Scholarship Fund, Nancy Carol Robert Library, or to Grace Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements for Maisie Louellen Pledger are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.