Lorene Graef

Lorene Mary Louise Graef returned to her Heavenly Home at 1:08 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011.

Baby Lorene came into this world on Sept. 3, 1920, and began her life in the Lockhart home of her loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Seeliger. Her sister Marylyn (now deceased) was born into this family seven years later, and her brother, Alfred Junior, joined the family after ano

ther seven years.

As a young lady, Lorene graduated from Lockhart High School in 1938 and began working and attending business school until she met her true love, Hilmar Eugene Graef, also of Lockhart.

They became engaged on Jan. 19, 1940. World War II intervened, and the couple decided to wed where Hilmar was stationed at Ft. Monmouth, N.J. They were united in Holy Matrimony on June 21,1941, and spent the subsequent months residing in various cities determined by the Army. Hilmar then spent time serving in Panama and was re-united with Lorene in their Lockhart home following the war.

On Nov. 28, 1949, Lorene and Hilmar were blessed with the birth of their first child, daughter, Karan Sue, who currently lives in Harpers Ferry, W.V. Three years later, their son, Eugene Scott was born on Dec. 17, 1952. Scott now resides in San Antonio.

After several years of assisting with his family’s farm south of Lockhart and their farm implement business in Lockhart, Hilmar moved his wife and children to Houston, Texas, where he worked as an electrician and machinist at Vector Cable for a couple of decades.

During their years in Houston, Lorene and Hilmar maintained strong ties to friends and family in Lockhart, where they spent most weekends and holidays. Following Hilmar’s death in 1979, Lorene moved back to Lockhart. There she cheerfully and faithfully glorified God by humbly serving her family, church and community.

After three decades of being blessed by God and being a blessing to others, Lorene peacefully but unexpectedly slipped into a semi-coma this past Wednesday while at the Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos, where she had been admitted on Tuesday with an abnormally high pulse rate. After about eight hours, the Lord called Lorene to her Heavenly Home to experience the joy of His presence and a reunion with the loved ones who had left before her.

Lorene is survived by brother Alfred Seeliger; children, Karan Townsend and Scott Graef; grandchildren: Ryan Townsend, Jason Townsend, Shannon Townsend, Jennifer Graef and Sarah Graef; and nine great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were under the care and guidance of McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan St., Lockhart, Texas 78644 (512) 398-4791.