Vivian Caudle Haterius

Vivian Caudle Haterius, a long-time resident of Stamford, Texas, passed away December 12, 2012, in Lubbock, days before her 87th birthday.

A celebration of Vivian’s life will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 27, 2012, at Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ericksdahl Community, Avoca, Texas. A graveside service was held December 16th at Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ericksdahl.

If you would like to honor Vivian’s memory, the family suggests making a charitable donation to: Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church Music Fund, c/o Tena Tankersley, P.O. Box 828, Stamford, Texas 79553; Hospice of Lubbock, 3702 21st Street, Lubbock, Texas 79410; The Bridge of Lubbock, PO Box 667, Lubbock, Texas 79408 or the charity of your choice.

Vivian was born Christmas Day 1925 in Dublin, Texas, to James Rosser Caudle and Vallie Walton Caudle. She was the eighth of nine children. The Caudle family moved from Erath County and settled in the Avoca area where they farmed for many years. Vivian graduated from Avoca High School in ¬¬1942.

During World War II, she worked at the flight school in Stamford where she met a young pilot from Kansas, Francis George (Pancho) Steiger, Sr. They married in 1944. A few months after their marriage, his plane was reported missing over the Pacific and was never recovered. Vivian gave birth to the couple’s son, Francis George (Pancho) Steiger, Jr. in 1945.

In 1956, Vivian married Milton Tulien Haterius. They had two daughters, Suzanne and Allison. The couple lived and raised their family in Stamford. Milton preceded her in death on July 19, 2007, five days after their 51st wedding anniversary. She was a long-time member of Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was active in WELCA.

Vivian was a great wife, mother and grandmother. She was witty and fun-loving, often noted for her humorous and sometimes sarcastic comebacks. Throughout her life, she remained an avid basketball fan and never lost her keen appreciation of cars, clothes, shoes, and The Golden Girls.

She moved to Lubbock in 2009 to be with family, and in 2011 to Promiseland III where she was lovingly cared for by the entire staff. While living there her spunk and wit were very much on display.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; four brothers, Brodie, Claude, Homer and E.E. (Edge); two sisters, Mary Caudle Million and Clota Caudle Huffaker; and one son-in-law, Louis Patrick Fusaro.

The family expresses our sincere gratitude to Ericka Hermosillo, Teresa Scoggins and the staff at Promiseland III, Accolade Home Health, Hospice of Lubbock and Covenant Palliative Medicine and the many dear friends who supported us.

Those left to celebrate Vivian’s life are her children Francis George (Pancho) Steiger, Jr., of Denver, Colorado.; Suzanne Haterius- Fusaro of Hurst, Texas; Allison and Todd Quisenberry of Lubbock,Texas; granddaughter Addie Marie Fusaro of Hurst, Texas; two brothers Joe Caudle of Abilene, Texas, and Earl (Ookie) Caudle of Seminole, Texas.; sisters-in-law, Betty Caudle of Fort Worth, Texas, Eunice Haterius Brownfield and husband, Charlie, of Stamford; and Marjorie Haterius, of Stamford; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.