Cecile "Mickey" Mikulenka Myers

VIENNA - Cecile "Mickey" Mikulenka Myers, 87, died peacefully June 6, 2007 at Hallettsville Rehabilitation and Nursing Center under Hospice Care.

She had been diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2006.

She was born Aug. 7, 1919 in Breslau (Lavaca County) Texas to Rudolph Mikulenka and Leona Plummer Mikulenka. After graduating from Karnes City High School, she moved to San Antonio where her brother, Eugene, introduced her to David A. Myers, a buddy serving with him in the Army at Fort Sam Houston. They married July 13, 1940 at Mission San Jose in San Antonio. Their only child, David L. Myers, was born May 3, 1941 in San Antonio.

Being a career Army wife she moved the family frequently to places such as Camp McCoy, Wis.; Camp Swift (Bastrop); Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; and Westover AFB, Mass; all while making frequent trips back to San Antonio and Vienna, where they retired in 1958.

Mickey, along with her husband, was a stray dog's best friend, and nursed many animals back to health, including armadillos, squirrels, and wild birds that became pets, complete with nicknames. She was also a hard worker, and earned extra spending money by gathering pecans near her home, usually 1,000 to 2,000 pounds annually, much of it on her hands and knees. The pecans also ended up in her famous, inimitable pie-crust cinnamon roll recipe she developed from leftover pie dough. Her family will also miss her beef enchiladas that were the piece de resistance of the Christmas feast, as well as smothered steak and pinto beans, none of which anyone has been able to duplicate, even after repeated close observation using the exact same utensils and cookware. She didn't credit her mother with her culinary skills, but said she learned to cook while employed at a mental hospital in San Antonio, her first job, where she prepared food for physicians and staff. They nicknamed her Mickey because Mikulenka was too hard to pronounce or remember.

She was brave. In 1949, she and her 8-year-old son drove by themselves in a new 1949 Kaiser-Frasier from Hallettsville to Great Falls, Mont. on the way to Fairbanks, Alaska. She worked in the Base Exchange at Eielson AFB and worked at several grocery stores in San Antonio.

After David died in 1999, she air-conditioned and renovated her home, bought a television set (after going without for about 10 years), and a new red Chevrolet Cavalier that she loved to drive, up until about four weeks ago. It replaced the 1958 Chevrolet Apache pickup and 1965 Chevrolet Impala they bought new.

She is also preceded in death by an infant sister, Mary Mikulenka; and brothers, Eugene and Edward Mikulenka.

She is survived by her son, David L. Myers and wife Pat of Vienna; grandchildren, Mark Myers and wife Fonda of Mountain Home, Julie Myers and husband Reagon Clamon of Lytle, Kevin Myers and wife Karen of College Station; great-grandchildren, Erika, Kristen, Caroline, Jacob, Raetsch, Luke, Molly, Emory; sister, Frances Gilmore and husband Tom of Three Rivers; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

She was a member of Presbyterian Church of Gonzales, and she also attended Bible study there as well as at St. James Episcopal Church in Hallettsville. She was also a charter member of the Hallettsville Red Hat Society, and attended the events wearing a variety of stylish red hats after she lost her hair to chemotherapy. She repeatedly said she'd rather be in pain and have fun than just sit at home.

Visitation will be Friday at Noon, with the family receiving visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kubena Funeral Home in Hallettsville, followed on Saturday by interment at 10 a.m. at Hallettsville City Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Hallettsville with the Rev. Diana Whitley officiating.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Church of Gonzales, 414 St. Louis, Gonzales 78629; St. James Episcopal Church, 1104 East Fourth St., Hallettsville 77964; or Hospice of South Texas, 404 N. Texana, Hallettsville, 77964.