Lillie Mae Beale

Lillie Mae Beale, 88, of Gonzales, passed away peacefully Saturday, Oct. 7. Lillie was born Feb. 22, 1929 in Flatonia to Joe and Stella Starry Pavlica. She married Robert Louis “Bob” Beale on November 24, 1949 in Gonzales.

Lillie was raised in a family that celebrated their Czech heritage with steadfast pride. She was an excellent bowler and received many trophies as a competitor. Lillie worked alongside Bob as the co-owner and bookkeeper of the many businesses that she and Bob owned and operated. She was very good with numbers and could mentally compute an equation faster than most people could work them with a calculator. Lillie was a quick witted and impeccably dressed lady. Certainly if Lillie formulated an opinion on something she had no reservations in expressing herself. Lillie carried herself in a demeanor consistent with what most folks would recognize as a Southern lady. She was charming and kind until she needed to be otherwise, but she was always a lady. Lillie lived well; she enjoyed life and lived accordingly, she enjoyed shopping and maintained a fine wardrobe selection.

Lillie and Bob cherished their relationship with John Pirkle and his family. After Bob passed away Lillie favored John’s companionship and enjoyed the trusted company of John’s mother Virginia Pirkle. Lillie enjoyed travelling and she cherished the many trips she and John took together. She relished times spent with the “coffee group,” her friends at the Dairy Queen. She loved the Spurs and had held season tickets for the Spurs home games for over 17 years. Lillie loved her dogs and appreciated their unconditional love and companionship. Lillie worked and lived her life in the manner in which she was raised through her Czech heritage. She worked hard alongside her husband Bob and she was a woman of tremendous faith.

Lillie Mae Beale is survived by her brother, Joe “Boy” Pavlica of Schulenburg, long-time companion John Pirkle of Gonzales and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and dear cousins. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, parents, infant daughter, Penny Renee Beale, and her sister, Stella “Sis” Zimmerhanzel.

A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Woodmen of the World Cemetery with Rev. Wayne Jackson officiating. Honorary pallbearers: Ronald Rutherford, Leslie Pirkle, Luis Haro, John Pirkle and Dr. Terry Eska. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in Lillie’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011 or the or the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flatonia. Friends may sign the guest book by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.