Funeral services for Helen Talbot Egger of Ebony, Texas was held Monday, June 11, 2012 at Davis-Morris Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Slaymaker officiating, with gravesite services afterward at the Ebony cemetery. Visitation was held on Sunday, June 10, 2012, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Egger passed away on June 7, 2012, in Round Rock, Texas.

She was born on January 17, 1923 to Will H. and Anna G. Talbot in Brownwood, Texas, the youngest of 5 children. After graduating from North Texas State Teachers College, in 1948, she began a lifelong commitment of 28 years in education. She taught in Hillsboro, Gatesville, Tyler, Early and Brownwood, Texas before retiring in 1986 from teaching kindergarten in San Saba, Texas, and upon “retirement” continued the “ full time job” of running the Clayton Egger Ranch after the death of Clayton in 1980.

She met Clayton Egger in 1955 during a weekend visit home to Brownwood. Clayton saw her singing in the First Baptist Church in a trio with two of her sisters on a Sunday morning in January. He leaned over and asked his friend, W. L. Robertson, “Who is the brunette? Would you introduce us?” Next Sunday, after Sunday School the Robertson’s introduced Clayton and Helen beside the First Baptist Church goldfish pond, and the rest was history. Their love was immediate, strong, and lasted all their lives.

Clayton and Helen were joined in matrimony six months later on August 6, 1955.

She moved to their ranch on Buffalo Creek at Ebony, and lived there for over 50 years, until 2009, when she decided due to her health she must leave behind some of her independence and move to Round Rock, to be near her children.

Helen was a successful rancher for twenty years, raising some of the finest cattle and sheep in the area. She was quick to mention that in her success, she was just carrying on what Clayton had accomplished and put in place.

Helen often remarked she was able to do things on the ranch she would never in a million years have dreamed she was capable of doing. Her longtime helper on the ranch, Soap Hardeman, often commented that her “fence fixing” looked like the work of a “widow woman,” which she readily acknowledged with a smile.

Helen was a strong, independent and loving person, and was always there for Susie and Bill.

She was a life long member of the First Baptist Church Brownwood, Ebony Community Center, Beta Sigma Phi, DAR, and UDC. She was fascinated by nature, and loved to write, paint, and research geneology.

She is survived by her children, Susan Egger Doss of Round Rock and William Clayton Egger, Jr. of San Antonio; her grandchildren, Sarah Doss, Amanda Doss, Will Egger, and Read Egger. She is also survived by a niece, Ann, and her husband, Bill Slaymaker; nephews Max Emfinger and wife, Ginger and Bill Embleton and wife, Anne; niece, Pat Embleton Bergey and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Clayton; brother, Bill Talbot; sisters, Mary Embleton, Olive Emfinger Rogers, and Beryl Hurt.