Lillie Mae Dupre

DUPRE, LILLIE Lillie Mae Dupre, 92 of Waco, passed away on May 1, 2003. Services will be at 10:30 am Monday, May 5 at First United Methodist Church of Woodway with the Rev. Jeff Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial North. Visitation with the family will be from 3-5pm Sunday, May 4, 2003 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Mae was born to Dora and Bert Jones on April 15, 1911 in Llano County. She had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Mae was working at the Corner Drug Store in downtown Waco when she met Oscar Lee Dupre, Sr, of Waco. They married in 1938. In 1940, they had a son, Oscar Lee Dupre, Jr. At that time, Mae and Oscar’s son Paul also began a close relationship. Oscar and Mae bought property and built a home on the outskirts of town. They later built a café and garage next door. Dupre’s Café became well known for some of the “Best Homecookin’ in Texas”. In the late 1960’s the state took over their property by imminent domain in order for the now Waco Drive/US Hwy 84 Intersection to be built. The Dupre’s bought property and retired to Woodway. Johnny Pipen built their home. It was one of the first built in the area. After her husband passed away in the early 1970’s Mae went to work for Crozier’s Flowers. She tended to the showroom, worked in the greenhouse and helped in all general areas of the store. She worked there for over 20 years. After this second retirement, she continued to spend her time serving the Woodway Methodist Church, sewing for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, and with activities in the Eastern Star and Daughter’s of the Nile, quilting and working in her yard and garden. Mae’s family, church family, friends and wonderful neighbors were her love. She was truly a “people person” and they were the driving force in her life. Her Christian faith was a central part of her life and she took every opportunity to share it with others. As her health began to fail in the past few years her church family and wonderful neighbors, along with the special care she received from Home Health helped support her so she could remain in her home. About six months ago, after a hospital stay, Mae’s family moved her to Deer Creek Nursing Center in Wimberley so that she could be closer to them and receive the care she needed. She quickly made friends with the staff, residents and volunteers and began to participate in the many activities they had. She thrived again, becoming a caretaker for those “old people” as she called them who needed extra help and assistance. The nurses and staff often commented that she was “all over that place” visiting with everyone. She cherished the daily visits from her family and especially from her granddaughter. She succumbed to her continued health problems on May 1, 2003 after a short illness. Mae is survived by her son, Oscar Lee Dupre, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Connie Dupre of Canyon Lake; Paul Dupre and daughter-in-law, Marilyn Dupre of Virginia Beach, VA.; sister, Doreen Thomas of Tyler; sister-in-law, Evelyn Dupre of Waco, grandchildren Ronald Dupre, Robert Dupre, Marc Dupre, and April Dupre and five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are to be Dan Blackstock of Ft. Parker; Dale Kidd of Waco; Robert Dupre of Long Island, NY; Ronald Dupre of Houston; Marc Dupre of Katy and Tom Johnson of San Antonio. The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com by selecting obituaries. Select “Sign Memorial Guestbook” at the top of the individual Memorial. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY