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Submitted: 8/16/12 • Approved: 9/1/12 • Last Updated: 9/4/12 • R742563-G742562-S3
8 Mar 1915 - 1 Sept 2007
*Obituary
The Star-Telegram
September 4, 2007
Lorene Mabry Cecil, 92, died Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home, Dr. Warren Bailey officiating. Interment: 2 p.m. Thursday in Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, Ark.
Memorials: Her memory may be honored with a gift to the Fort Worth Symphony League, 330 E. Fourth St., Fort Worth, Texas76102-4010; the TCU Guildâ€"Colleges of Fine Arts & Communication, 3824 Winifred Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76133; the Woman's Club of Fort Worth, 1316 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76104; or the Arc of Northeast Tarrant County, Box 14455, Fort Worth, Texas 76117.
Lorene Mabry Cecil was born at home March 8, 1915, in McAlester, Okla., daughter of the late Henry Eugene and Kate McAlister Mabry. As a young girl, her father taught her target shooting and she was most proud when he bought her a pair of breeches and boots. A competition shooter, she attended the University of Missouri, where she was known as "Annie Oakley of Missouri U."
She also attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo. She met Chester "Cece" W. Cecil, a young pilot from Abilene. After Cece completed weather school at MIT and Harvard Business School, he and Lorene married June 8, 1940. Their daughter, Jean Mabry Cecil, was born in Florida. Their son, Chesley Witten Cecil, was born in Arlington, Va.
After retiring from the Air Force, Cece and Lorene moved to Fort Worth, where Cece worked at General Dynamics. Lorene spent a lifetime as a volunteer and served as a leader for non-profit organizations. In 1970, she started the Fort Worth Symphony League's Oktoberfest as a fund-raiser for its programs and lovingly became known as the "Mother of the Fort Worth Oktoberfest."
A member of Ridglea Presbyterian Church, she was an honorary life member of the Fort Worth Symphony League and the TCU Guild. She also belonged to the Fort Worth Woman's Club where she was active in the History Club.
After their second retirement, Cece and Lorene bought a motor home and traveled across the United States. They enjoyed trips sponsored by the Smithsonian and their home in Colorado.
In addition to her parents, Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, Cece; sister, Imogene; and son-in-law, Dr. Kenneth Funk.
Survivors: Her daughter, Jeanne; son, Chesley and his wife, Lora; grandchildren, Geoffrey Cecil, Katie Funk, Christina Rose Cecil, Valerie Ann Cecil and Chesley Witten IV; nephew, E.W. Cecil; and niece, Linda Cecil.
Contributed on 8/16/12
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Record #: 742563