Willie Ann McColloch

Willie Ann Frels McColloch passed away Friday, April 24, 2020 in Sugar Land. She was born July 29, 1929 at home in Gen Flora, Wharton Co., TX to Earl Bernard and Alice Schmidt Frels. Earl ran a cotton gin. Alice was a housewife. Willie Ann attended Glen Flora Elementary School through the 8th grade. During this time Texas schools added a twelfth grade. Students were given a test which allowed them to skip the seventh grade which she did. After one year at Wharton High School, the family moved with her to Ganado in Jackson Co., TX. At Ganado Earl managed a heavy equipment company with his brother-in-law. He was the mayor of Ganado and on the school board. At Ganado High School Willie Ann was a cheer leader, lettered in Volleyball and worked as art editor on the yearbook. After graduating from Ganado High School she attended T.S.C.W. (now Texas Woman’s University). She received a Bachelor of Science degree as a Chemical Librarian. While at home applying for jobs, her dad hired her to teach algebra at Ganado High School. She became a fully certified teacher while teaching. She set up the library and sponsored the yearbook. She became reacquainted with Tom McColloch during this time. She married Thomas Ray McColloch on June 15, 1953 at Ganado. They moved to Richmond where Tom was farming rice. They had two children, Robert Franklin McColloch in 1954 and Tanna Eriece McColloch in 1955. Both children were born in Wharton, TX. Willie Ann received a telephone call from James Boone asking her to take the position of Librarian at Needville High School. She held that position for three years. While at Needville she co-sponsored the pep squad and made the Blue Jay mascot costume. During the next several years she was a Cub Scout Den Mother and helped with the Camp Fire Girls. She also had many hobbies: photography, fishing, embroidery, rock collecting, painting and ceramics. After several years Guy Traylor called needing a Librarian at Lamar High School. She remained there for 27 years. During this time she became affiliated with the drama department working on costumes and sets. She served as chaperon to eleven International Thespian Conferences at Muncie, IN. She helped with Sesquicentennial Celebration, doing historical research and building the large projection screen for the football field. After retiring from Lamar she did volunteer work in the Genealogy Department at Fort Bend County Library. She helped collect obituaries from the local newspapers and compiled this information on a computer file which was later printed in book form. During this time she became a member of the Fort Bend County Historical Commission. Willie Ann did research on the cemeteries of Fort Bend County. She and W.F. Von Mazewski translated and printed three German Lutheran Church record books. Willie Ann began to trace her family in 1953. She spent a great deal of time with Bill Stein at the Columbus Library, as most of her parents’ families came from Colorado County. She printed a book on the Frels family tracing them back to Germany. She helped collect material for a Historical Marker for the Reising Cemetery in Columbus, Colorado County. Some of the families she had researched are: Bacon, Frels, Green, Halyard, Higgins, Jordan, Schmidt, Schneider, Schoelmann and Weigel. Willie Ann enjoyed people, new adventures, new challenges. She enriched the world around her and will be sorely missed. A Graveside service will be held Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, April 29, 202 from 4-8 P.M. Both services are limited to 10 attendees at a time. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Willie Ann’s name to the Charity of your choice.

Tributes

Willie Ann McColloch

July 29, 1929 - April 24, 2020