Myra Beth (Saenger) Atkins, 88, of Hunt, Texas, passed away on May 23, 2024, at her home. She was born in Kerrville, Texas at the Secor Hospital to Arthur A. Saenger and Lucille V. (Taylor) Saenger on August 15, 1935. She married Dr. Raymond L. Atkins on her birthday in 1953 in Kerrville at the First Presbyterian Church. They were married for 55 years.

Myra Beth was a graduate of the Class of '53 at Tivy High School in Kerrville. She attended the University of Texas for two years. While in Austin she worked at the Driskill Hotel for Helen Corbett. Later moving to Dallas, when her husband was in dental school, she worked at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. This was her favorite job. Once her husband opened his dental practice in Wichita Falls, Texas, she was his dental assistant. Myra Beth became President of the Wichita Falls Dental Auxiliary. She trained as an EMT in the late 70's. When her mother became ill she returned to Kerrville to take care of her while working in the ER at Sid Peterson Hospital. She returned to Wichita Falls and worked in the ER at United Regional Hospital for a brief time and then retired.

As a youngster she was a camper and later a counselor at Camp Mystic. She was one of many that helped to build Louise Hays Park in one day. She spent many summers in Yorktown, Texas with her cousins, Beth and Diane, where they formed a sisterly bond since they were all only children in their families.

Once married, Myra Beth enjoyed fishing and competing in Field Trials with her husband and they traveled all over the United States winning many awards. She was an accomplished horse rider and marksman. Myra had played tennis in high school and she shared that love with her children. She spent many hours watching them and carting them to tennis tournaments all over Texas. Later she watched her granddaughter, Kelly, play tennis and softball, and her grandson, Bryan, play tennis, basketball, soccer, and football.

Myra Beth had several aunts, uncles, and cousins that she loved. She was very close to both of her grandfathers. Throughout her life she maintained close contact with her family and friends by letters, phone calls, and visits.

Myra Beth loved history and became the historian in her family and was very proud of her heritage. Her generational grandfather, Josiah Taylor, came to Texas as the Captain of the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition to help free Mexico from Spain in 1812. Myra Beth's family was part of Austin's Old 300 of 1828 that settled in Texas through her generational grandmother, Elizabeth Catherine Tumlison, who came as a child. In the 1840's the German side of her family came to Texas through Galveston and Indianola as part of the Great German Migration that settled in Fredericksburg, Texas. Her great grandfather, Conrad Herbot, gave the land for the cemetery, parsonage, and the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Cave Creek outside Fredericksburg. Her grandfather, Robert Saenger, Sr., was a founder of the Zion Lutheran Church in Kerrville. Myra Beth was raised in her mother's church (First Presbyterian), because her grandfather said a child should be raised in their mother's church.

In 2020 Myra Beth returned to Kerr County to live with her son and daughter-in-law. She enjoyed many lazy afternoons floating in the Guadalupe River with her river friends. She would often regale them with stories about her life and the history of Kerrville. She was an avid reader and was a member of the Village Literary Society in Hunt. She celebrated her 70th Tivy High School class reunion last May with 23 of her classmates.

Myra Beth was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur A. and Lucille V. Saenger; her husband, Dr. Raymond L. Atkins; and her daughter, Kimberly A. Atkins.

Survivors include her son, Raymond (Roddy) and wife, Nancy Atkins; granddaughter, Kelly Atkins; grandson, Bryan Atkins; brother-in-law, Paul Atkins; sister-in-law, Jennie Atkins; nieces, Julie Laughlin (Rick) and Debora Brabson (Chip); nephew, Kirk Atkins (Donnis); as well as numerous cousins on the Taylor and Saenger sides of the families.

Burial Services will be at 1:00 p.m. at Glen Rest Cemetery in Kerrville, Texas on Saturday, June 8, 2024. A Memorial Service will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, June 8 at the First Presbyterian Church (Schreiner Chapel) in Kerrville, Texas. Rev. Jasiel Hernandez Garcia will be officiating.

Memorials may be given to Development Department Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219 or Peterson Hospice, 250 Cully, Kerrville, Texas 78028.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Young and the whole Peterson Hospice Staff, especially to Holly, Callie, Charlene, David, Janet, and Matt. You are our heroes! Also our thanks to Dr. David Peters who cared for her for several years. Last, but not least, big kudos to our special nurse friend, Shannon.

Sign Guestbook>>

3 Condolence(s)