Myra Lena Atwood Selmser, 61, of Hamshire, left this world in the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, after a lengthy illness with COPD and lung cancer.
Services to celebrate Myra’s life will be 2 p.m. Saturday, at Broussard’s Mortuary in Winnie. Visitation with Myra’s family will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday at Broussard’s Mortuary in Winnie. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery, in Winnie under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary.
Myra was born Sept. 26, 1945, in Port Sulphur, Plaquemines Parrish, Louisiana, third child to Earnest Thomas Atwood and Mary Torkelson Atwood. The family moved in 1948 to the Hamshire area.
Myra was married Aug. 12, 1966, to Robert Wayne Selmser, of Houston, and lived in the Houston area, League City, Webster, and 30 years in Friendswood, before moving in 2003 back to Myra’s family home in Hamshire. A daughter, Lydia Jane Selmser Schweitzer, son-in-law, Michael Schweitzer, U.S. Army, and grandchildren, Alec Wayne Robinson and Andrea Christina Bowers, live in Lacey, Wash. Alec and Andi were Myra’s special treasures.
A graduate of Hamshire-Fannett High ISD’s first graduating class, Myra attended Hamshire-New Holland schools. She also attended Texas Woman’s University, Denton, and Lamar University, Beaumont.
In addition to her husband, daughter and daughter’s family, Myra is survived by her brother, Ted W. Atwood and wife, Ann, of Beaumont; and four sisters, Mary Ward and husband, Bob, of Austin; Peggy Atwood, of Beaumont; Sarah Bardwell and husband, Patrick, of Fannett; and Andrea Sticker and husband, David, of Meeker (Beaumont). Also surviving, with treasured memories of, and funny stories about Myra, are many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family and many friends.
Myra, a Methodist since marriage, grew up in the First Baptist Church of Hamshire. She was an active member of the Hamshire Friendship Sewing Club, and thoroughly enjoyed activities of the club and the friendship of all the club members.
Myra, loved every type of needlework and was adept at all that she tried. Her latest love was quilting and she made quilts for friends and acquaintances – who she then considered friends. In 2004 and 2005, Myra finished more than 35 heirloom quilts, piecing and quilting handwork that was begun by her grandmother and aunt. Myra gave the quilts as gifts to each of her family members. Her creations are pieces of art and history and memories for her family.
Myra played clarinet and piano, and enjoyed playing piano and organ for many churches, including churches that were just beginning.
Myra was retired from a career in office administration in the Houston area, including The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (UTMB), Houston Economic Development, Philco Ford at NASA, CHARIOT (a children’s medical consortium), and Friendswood ISD, where she worked in special education.
In Myra’s life were many trials. She handled them all in her way, in her time. Her spirit was generous and fun, and full of curiosity. She liked to talk. She wanted to do things. We will laugh and tell Myra stories, and we will miss Myra greatly.
Myra’s family is grateful for the service of all the doctors, nurses, hospitals, emergency services, and friends, who helped so many times and so greatly during Myra’s illness. Until we see you all personally, please accept this expression of our gratitude.
As an expression of love, please consider a contribution to the Hamshire Volunteer Fire Department’s ambulance fund, P. O. Box 153, Hamshire, Texas 77622..
