Sara McConnell Obituary

Sara Kathryn Gerber McConnell
12/04/1930 - 11/28/2023
Sara Kathryn ("Sally") Gerber McConnell, 92, was born to Carl Bruno Gerber and Edith Kathryn Douglas Gerber in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 4, 1930. Sally passed away at home in the loving care of her family and friends on November 28, 2023.
After growing up in Arlington, Virginia in the house built by her father, Sally, a stunning and adventurous redhead, enrolled at Duke University in 1948. Never afraid of the unknown, in college Sally undertook an infamous, unchaperoned road trip across the United States with three friends. Upon her return, she was courted by the Duke Blue Devil, Elliott ("Mac") McConnell, who became her husband of 66 years. Following their wedding at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., honeymoon in Bermuda, and Mac's completion of graduate school at Penn State in 1953, Mac and Sally began their lifelong journey together in Ozona, Texas. Through Mac's career as an ambitious young geoscientist and bolstered by Sally's love of life, Ozona was followed by moves to Lovington, Roswell and Carlsbad NM, Tyler and Midland TX, Calgary AB, Casper Wyoming, and Connecticut before finally landing in Houston in 1970. Sally seamlessly orchestrated the over two dozen moves with two children in tow. Her steadfast, honorable, curious and generous nature was not only reflected in her ability to adapt to new places, learn new things and meet new people, but also in how she raised her children and grandchildren.
Mac and Sally retired to Rockport, Texas, in 1987, where they spent the next 19 years creating memories with their children, grandchildren and many friends in the arts, tennis, boating and public service communities. Sally immersed herself in the Rockport art community and became an avid painter and supporter of the arts, which she did with great enthusiasm for the remainder of her life. Sally's enthusiasm for art and her advocacy supported the growth and stability of the Rockport Center for the Arts and helped it become one of Texas' finest. Sally was on the Board of the Rockport Center for the Arts for four years including a year as president. Mac and Sally relocated to Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas in 2006 where Sally was a member of the New Braunfels and Boerne Art Leagues. Following Mac's passing in 2018, Sally made her final move back to Houston in 2020 where she built lasting friendships at the Village at South Hampton and shared her love for art.
Over her long life, Sally perfected the art of making every new place feel like a familiar home - meticulously designing and decorating warm spaces, vigorously gardening, sewing anything and everything, endlessly entertaining, cooking with supreme skill, and enjoying cocktail hour - all the while surrounded by family and friends. Sally loved traveling, tennis, skiing, boating, painting, collecting art and befriending artists, cooking, and socializing with special friends. As Sally would instruct, keep moving forward, keep smiling, and love your family and friends as she exemplified throughout her long life.
Sally was a dedicated wife, mother (mother-in-law), sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Sally will be fondly remembered as the biggest cheerleader, the best listener, and a source of steadfast guidance by her children, Marilyn ("Lynn") B. Huston (husband, David) and James ("Jim") D. McConnell (wife, Mary); grandchildren, Kimberly B. Huston (great-grandchildren, Huston and Mia), Virginia H. Kadlick, Benjamin B. Huston (wife, Rachel), James D. McConnell, Jr. (wife, Vanessa) and Sara M. Carrico (husband, Mason); brother, George Gerber (wife, Betty Jane); nephews, Jamie Gerber (wife, Ann) and John Gerber (wife, Susan).
The family is deeply grateful for the help and endless positive support that Sally's caregivers and friends provided. Services are private. Remembrances, if desired, should be directed to the Rockport Center for the Arts.