Martha Hillyer Bernhausen

Martha Hillyer Bernhausen September 3, 1918 - June 24, 2010 Martha Hillyer Bernhausen, 91, died on June 24, 2010. Graveside services will be 9:30 a.m., Monday, June 28, at Oakwood Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Su Milam of First United Methodist Church. Martha started life in Mt. Calm, Texas, as the only child of Nona Cantrell Hillyer and Burl Hillyer. She graduated from Mt. Calm High School and then earned a Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a Master’s degree from North Texas State University. Her job hunt led her to Waco Independent School District. She began as a bookkeeper. Eventually a teaching position opened and she told the administration that job was hers. She began teaching bookkeeping at Waco High School later, Richfield High School. It was while teaching that she met and married “the coach.” She and Ernest A. Bernhausen were married on December 29, 1950. Teaching her football was not one of his greatest successes. Mr. Bernhausen died March 29, 1976. Martha’s great desire was to continue to live in her home and that would be a challenge since she had no siblings and no children. Through the great efforts of some very dedicated caregivers she was able to do that. Her special thanks go to Mattie Graves, Mae Estes, Andrea Arnett, Dorothy Thornton and Martha Allen. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and housemate of many years, Willie Mae Judd. She is survived by several cousins, including John Saunders and wife Jackie, of Houston. She is also survived by special friends who were Willie Mae’s family: Dorothy Erwin and husband, Buddy, of Waco; Mildred Baker of Fort Worth; Kathy Kutscherovsky and husband, Mark, along with their three children Jordan, Jonathan and Mitchell; and Hillary Erwin. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.