Ruth Eloise Horak

Ruth Eloise Brown Horak passed away quietly to be with her Lord on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at the age of 88. Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Stephenville and 2 p.m. Monday at Zion United Church of Christ in Clifton. Graveside service: 4 p.m. Monday in Czech Brethren Church Cemetery in West. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Stephenville Funeral Home in Stephenville. Memorials: Donations may be made to Tarleton State University Horak-Smith Middle School Mathematics Pre-service Scholarship or to youth programs at First Presbyterian Church, Stephenville; First Presbyterian Church, Clifton; Zion United Church of Christ, Clifton; Weimar United Church of Christ; The Master's Workshop Camp, Waco; or Slumber Falls Camp, New Braunfels. Eloise was born July 31, 1924, in St. Louis, Mo., to Casey Vernon and Martha Ruth Leach Brown. She married Frank Henry Horak Jr. in St. Louis on Aug. 21, 1953. She served alongside Frank in God's ministry within the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church, USA for more than 40 years. Frank preceded her in death on Feb. 21, 1999. Eloise was a lifelong learner and educator. She held degrees from Harris Teacher's College, Baylor University, and Tarleton State University. She taught for 43 years in St. Louis and in Texas at Marion ISD, Weimar ISD, Morgan ISD, Clifton ISD, and at Tarleton State University. She loved conducting genealogy research, watching sports and playing games. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Stephenville. At the time of her death, she was an active member of American Association of University Women, Stephenville Branch; 20th Century Club of Stephenville; General Federation of Women's Clubs, Pioneer District; Delta Kappa Gamma, Stephenville; Daughters of the American Revolution, Stephenville; and Retired Teachers Association, Granbury. In addition to her husband, Eloise was also preceded in death by sisters, Geraldine Bumm, Kay Gresham, Liz Brauner and Barbara Brown Anders; and her brother, Edward "Bud" Brown. Survivors: sons, Hank Horak and wife, Janette, of Austin, and Mark Horak and wife, Kristin, of Lake Oswego, Ore.; daughters, Kathy Smith and husband, Russell, of Granbury; and Janice Horak of Granbury. She has left her passion for mathematics and sports to her grandchildren, Christopher Smith and wife, Kayla, of Richmond; Kate Miller and husband, Marcus, of Helena, Mont.; Natalie Smith of San Saba; Frank Horak IV of College Station; Jake Horak of Austin, and Jordan Horak of Lake Oswego, Ore.; and several nieces and nephews.