ZELMA DEAVER DRAPER

Zelma Draper died in Longview, Texas, at 102 years of age. She was born Zelma Roma Lee Deaver in Seymour, Texas, December 18, 1905, to Frederick and Mary Taylor Deaver. Raised in Rockport, Texas, Draper graduated from Southwest Texas Teacher College (Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas, and later did post -graduate work at Columbia University in New York City in the 1930s. A master teacher, Draper taught in Mineral and other one and two-room schoolhouses throughout Texas. She later taught in Mesquite and Corpus Christi, Texas. Her teaching assignments included high school biology and homemaking classes, junior high school science classes. Her last assignment was teaching first grade at Carroll Lane Elementary School. She also taught at Driscoll Junior High School, and Travis and R.B. Fisher Elementary Schools. She was considered an exemplary teacher by her peers and preferred to teach the "hardest to reach" children. Using creativity in all her classroom activities and lessons, Draper made learning a fun experience for her students.

A renowned genealogist, Draper was recognized for her in-depth and precise research in the quest for ancestry knowledge. She served as a teacher and mentor for many budding genealogists and volunteered her time at La Retama Library in Corpus Christi assisting others in tracing their heritage. She was also a contributing writer to many books tracing family histories.

Besides genealogy, other hobbies included gardening, gourmet cooking, fishing, painting, and 22 caliber small bore tournament shooting. Shooting at targets, she beat many competitor (both male and female) with her marksmanship. She believed that a "good fishin' hole is good for the soul" catching many bass, trout, redfish and flounder in her days.

She attributed her longevity to her pursuit of knowledge, love of nature and God's creatures, her family, friends and always good, wholesome food.

Draper lived in Corpus Christi for 60 years before moving to Kilgore in 2000 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Frank "Buz" Elder III. She was married 35 years to L.M. Draper, M.D., a surgeon in Corpus Christi, who preceded her in death in 1975. Five sisters, Ruth McShan, Annie Johnston, Eunice Hill, Leta Adcock and Alta Bauman, predeceased her.

She was a member of First Christian Church of Corpus Christi, Charter Member of Coastal Bend Genealogy Society, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Alpha Delta Kappa Educators Sorority, Humane Society of the United States and many genealogical groups and organizations.

Survivors include daughters Lee and husband Frank "Buz" Elder of Kilgore, Texas; Myra Perley of Sierra Madre, California; Marilyn and husband Bill Brown of Sarasota, Florida; five grandchildren: Carey Elder Kelley of Austin; Texas, Bo Elder of San Diego, California; Ann Perley of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Phil and wife Cynthia of Sierra Madre, California; Melanie and husband, Tim Elmer of Tampa, Florida; great-grandchildren: Julie Seibert, Nikki Seibert, Mitchell and Megan Perley, and Adam Stone; niece Darla and husband Bill Dobson of Rockport, Texas; nephew, Albert and Jerrie Bauman of Corpus Christi, and numerous great, great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Reed Memorial Chapel, Seaside Memorial Park. The service will be led by the Rev. Don Tuttle, pastor of First Christian Church in Corpus Christi.

Memorial contributions in Zelma's name can be made to Coastal Bend Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 2826, Corpus Christi, Texas, or to the Humane Society of the United States.

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