Just realized I never published this post from last September when my wonderful Grandma Fitzgerald celebrated her 100th birthday. 
How amazing is it that we just celebrated her 101st birthday?
Please take to read a brief overview of her legacy. God has truly blessed our family with this strong, stubborn, and special lady! I love her more than words can convey.
Lela Rae Fitzgerald was born on September 28, 1913, in Coleman County Texas to George Elliott and Lillie Mae Maughan Rae. She is the second oldest of six children. On her maternal grandmother's side she is a fifth generation Texan with the following notable ancestors: David Burkett - one of the first families of Texas and a member of the DeWitt Colony who settled under Impresario Stephen F. Austin;
William Fisher - Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773; Samuel R. Fisher - signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and first Secretary of the Navy for the Republic of Texas; Andrew Jackson Kent - defender of the Alamo; Nathan Boone Burkett - Texas Ranger (named after Daniel Boone's son because of a close family relationship with the Boone’s). On Lela’s paternal grandfather’s side she is a second generation Texan. Her grandfather was a Scottish immigrant and came to Texas in 1876. It is documented that he imported the first Border Collies to work the sheep in South and West Texas. Lela herself could ride a horse with the best of them, and in her early years lived on a ranch next door to neighbors Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson.
Lela has three daughters, Nell Ray - deceased, Grace Martinez and husband Sam of San Antonio, and Lela Wade and husband Neil of Iredell. She has 17 grandchildren, 41 great- grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. Lela has lived in several towns in Texas, Colorado, California, and in France.
She has worked as a saddle maker, a seamstress and in various other jobs. She loved gardening, sewing, needlework, and reading. She taught Sunday School until the age of 90 at First Baptist Church - Hico and drove until 93.
To family and friends, she has been a second mother, counselor,confidant, and has always been known for her great sense of humor. As evidence , an oft told story is when she was picking cotton with her father and knowing that he was deathly afraid of snakes, she decided to put a small garden snake in the next cotton plants he was going to pick. When he saw the snake and started hollering, Lelaand her siblings could not control their laugher.
Recently when ask for a bit of wisdom to pass along she said, "just keep giving away your blessings." I think that statement sums up her life. She always took care of her family, and after the death of her mother when Lela was 17, she helped raise her four younger siblings. Mom always wanted to make sure needs were met, and that you saw the good in every situation. She believed you should have time to laugh and have fun in everything you do. When reminded that she would be 101 years old in a week, she grinned and said, “I guess I’d better straighten up!”
William Fisher - Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773; Samuel R. Fisher - signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and first Secretary of the Navy for the Republic of Texas; Andrew Jackson Kent - defender of the Alamo; Nathan Boone Burkett - Texas Ranger (named after Daniel Boone's son because of a close family relationship with the Boone’s). On Lela’s paternal grandfather’s side she is a second generation Texan. Her grandfather was a Scottish immigrant and came to Texas in 1876. It is documented that he imported the first Border Collies to work the sheep in South and West Texas. Lela herself could ride a horse with the best of them, and in her early years lived on a ranch next door to neighbors Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson.
Lela has three daughters, Nell Ray - deceased, Grace Martinez and husband Sam of San Antonio, and Lela Wade and husband Neil of Iredell. She has 17 grandchildren, 41 great- grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. Lela has lived in several towns in Texas, Colorado, California, and in France.
She has worked as a saddle maker, a seamstress and in various other jobs. She loved gardening, sewing, needlework, and reading. She taught Sunday School until the age of 90 at First Baptist Church - Hico and drove until 93.
To family and friends, she has been a second mother, counselor,confidant, and has always been known for her great sense of humor. As evidence , an oft told story is when she was picking cotton with her father and knowing that he was deathly afraid of snakes, she decided to put a small garden snake in the next cotton plants he was going to pick. When he saw the snake and started hollering, Lelaand her siblings could not control their laugher.
Recently when ask for a bit of wisdom to pass along she said, "just keep giving away your blessings." I think that statement sums up her life. She always took care of her family, and after the death of her mother when Lela was 17, she helped raise her four younger siblings. Mom always wanted to make sure needs were met, and that you saw the good in every situation. She believed you should have time to laugh and have fun in everything you do. When reminded that she would be 101 years old in a week, she grinned and said, “I guess I’d better straighten up!”
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