Margaret ‘Maggie’ Lewis Bains

Bains, Margaret “Maggie” Lewis passed away peacefully on April 19, 2019 in Dripping Springs, Texas at age 96. She was born August 26, 1922 in Harlingen, Texas to Abner and Mildred Lewis. Mildred died when Maggie was 5 years old and she and her younger brother, Richard lived for awhile in Harlingen with their grandparents, Victor and Olivia Gustafson while their father practiced law and served in the 23rd Texas Legislature. When Maggie was 10, her father married her first-grade teacher, Bertie Bartlett and the family moved to Houston. She graduated from Rice University with a degree in biology. Following graduation, she worked in Baytown, Texas where she met a handsome Navy pilot, Louis Bains. They married in July, 1944. Following World War II, they moved to Austin, Texas while he completed his degree at The University of Texas at Austin, and she began her teaching career at Allan Junior High. Their first daughter, Carol was born in 1947. After Louis’ graduation, the family moved to Baytown where he was employed as an accountant with Humble Oil & Refining (now Exxon). Maggie continued teaching in Baytown and then at La Porte High School. Their second daughter, Melanie, was born in 1954. While teaching at La Porte High School, Maggie spent several summers at Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston where she obtained a Master’s degree in Marine Zoology in 1967. Her love of the subject inspired her to start a Marine Science program at La Porte High School. Describing her love of teaching, she believed that “to teach was to open doors to other minds to the beauty and order of life at all stages and to challenge them with the fantastic potential they have as humans”. She was loved and respected by her students, many of whom remained in contact throughout the years.

When Maggie and Louis retired, they moved to Wimberley, Texas where she quickly became active in many organizations. In honor of her community service, she was once named Wimberley Volunteer of the Year. She and Louis were members of the Chapel in the Hills Church and its choir. They also loved singing with the Wimberley Community Chorus.

Never remaining completely retired, in her 80’s Maggie enjoyed working as a Research Assistant for several weeks a year at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, and then the Texas A&M Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi. She also enjoyed teaching several short courses such as “Creek Critters”, and “Wildflowers of Texas” in Wimberley.

Maggie loved traveling in the United States and abroad with friends and family, particularly to Sweden to visit relatives there. She loved her friends in Wimberley and always enjoyed entertaining at her home. She loved being “Granny” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their friends. Many good times were had when they visited, climbing Old Baldy, going to Pioneer Village, and playing on their property and creek.

Maggie is predeceased by her parents, her two brothers, and her husband. She is survived by her daughters Carol (Bruce) Barron and Melanie (Mark) Cates; grandchildren Brittani (Chad) Strickland, Kelly Hague, Rebecca (Eric) Hunt, Kimberly Cates (Andy Woodworth), and Kristin (Fred) Means. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Callie (Stetson) Adams, Kara and Hayden Hunt, and Austin and Bennett Hague. Great-great grandchildren include Lynleigh and Sutton Adams. She also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of both SPJST Assisted Living in Taylor and Hill Country Care in Dripping Springs for the compassionate care they provided.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 2, 2019 at 2pm at the Chapel in the Hills, Wimberley, Texas.

Memorials may be sent to the Chapel in the Hills, Wimberley, the Wimberley Community Chorus, the Harte Research Institute Corpus Christi Margaret “Maggie” Bains Scholarship, or a charity of your choice.