Manet Evelyn Davis Schepps

MANET EVELYN DAVIS SCHEPPS passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, March 29, 2008. Born on George Washington's birthday, 1917, Manet Schepps was the oldest of four children born to Bertha and Abe Davis in Houston, Texas. Manet was proud that she was a second-generation, native-born Houstonian. Her parents gave her the Hebrew name Malcha, which means “queen.” During her ninety years, Manet was a queen to many.

During Manet's youth, her parents owned a grocery store, and her father was a kosher butcher. Manet frequently reminisced about her childhood over-indulgence of tempting candies in her parents' store and being scolded for mixing up the various dry beans that at that time were sold in bulk from bins.

Manet attended San Jacinto High School, where she wrote for the newspaper and served as editor of the yearbook. While in high school, Manet was President of the Chi Comrades, a girl's club, which was the forerunner of the B'nai B'rith Girls Organization in Houston.

Following her high school graduation, Manet met Aggie A. I. Schepps, who had “crashed” Manet's cousin's wedding reception. They were married on Flag Day, June 14, 1936, at Adath Yeshurun Synagogue.

When the couple had two small children, 3-month-old son Dennis and 3-year-old daughter Sonnie, the U. S. Army called A. I. to serve in Europe during World War II. The fledgling business Schepps Grocery Co., which the couple had started, had to continue. With the children frequently accompanying her to work early in the morning, Manet persevered and kept the business running and prospering. Relying on the help of her father, Manet ran the company from 1941 until A. I.'s return in September of 1945. Manet was truly a “Rosey the Riveter.” During the war, Manet was interviewed by a Houston newspaper reporter, who called her “The Lady Behind the Man Behind the Gun.” She told the reporter, “I don't deserve any compliments. My husband is in the Army, so are the husbands of thousands of other women. Why should I be praised for doing the only thing I can do?”

When Lt. Col. Schepps returned from the War, Manet was happy to return to what she loved most raising her children and being with her family. After the war, Manet gave birth to daughters Gilda and Nancy. Manet assisted in all of her children's activities, including PTO, boy/girl scouts, school plays, B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, debate tournaments, and synchronized swimming. In addition, Manet helped with functions at the Texas A & M Hillel, due to her husband and son's involvement with the organization.

Manet's synagogue became a key part of her life. She participated in efforts to build and expand the newly amalgamated Congregation Beth Yeshurun. In 1957 and 1958, Manet served as President of the Congregation Beth Yeshurun Sisterhood. She particularly enjoyed welcoming new members, and hosted the first Sisterhood Donor Luncheon in her home. During the construction of the building on Beechnut, Manet helped her husband select items for the synagogue, including the mosaics in the main sanctuary. In 1994, due to the couple's commitment to health and exercise, Manet and A. I. added a recreation center to the school at the synagogue. They also provided for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah fund. In 1999, the synagogue honored Manet with the Martha Lea Stein award for service.

Manet was an exceptional philanthropist, fundraiser, and volunteer due to her extraordinary organizational skills and personality. In addition to her involvement in Sisterhood, Manet was involved with Jewish Women International and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Houston Retail Grocers Association and was a Life Member of Hadassah and Amit Women. Manet was also a generous supporter of the Seven Acres Jewish Geriatric home. She particularly enjoyed attending events benefiting the Galveston Historical Foundation and riding aboard the ship Elissa during sea trials in Galveston Harbor.

Manet was always willing to open her home to any organization even when in her 80's. During their marriage, Manet and A. I. hosted and/or organized festivities benefiting organizations such as the Jewish Federation, State of Israel Bonds, Jewish Theological Seminary, B'nai B'rith, Amit Women, and Hadassah. Manet and A. I. were awarded the Jerusalem Covenant Award by the State of Israel bonds, and they provided for a student scholarship at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Manet assisted her husband whenever and however he needed her to do so. Wherever A. I. went or whatever he was active in, Manet was surely there with a helping hand and a smile on her face.

Manet was a resident of Bellaire, Texas for nearly thirty years. Along with her husband, Manet was a charter member of the Nature Discovery Center and a generous supporter of the Elaine Wood Therapy Pool on Evergreen. Manet built one of the first architecturally modern homes on Pine Street in Bellaire and volunteered it to be featured in one of the early Annual Bellaire Home Tours benefiting the Nature Discovery Center.

Manet may not have graduated from Texas A & M as her husband did, but she possessed Aggie Spirit. The couple attended A & M football games with friends each fall, and in true Aggie tradition, Manet and A. I. shared a kiss after each Aggie score. Manet and A. I. became founding members of President's Endowed Scholars at Texas A & M. Each September, Manet looked forward to meeting the student recipient of the scholarship they sponsored.

Manet loved to travel. Adventurous in spirit, Manet and A. I. journeyed the globe, visiting all seven continents, even Antarctica, and cruising on rivers such as the Amazon and the Nile. They flew on the Goodyear blimp and the inaugural Concorde flight from Dallas to London. Each year, they commemorated the anniversary of A. I.'s participation in the D-day landing and they traveled to Europe to celebrate the 40th, 45th, 50th, and 55th anniversaries of D-day. Their final trip together in 2004 took them to Washington D. C. to admire the beauty of the World War II Memorial.

Manet adored nature, the beach, a good book, beautiful hats, stylish eyeglasses, tending to her vegetable and flower gardens and brisk morning walks. During one of these morning walks, she saw a puppy wandering in the street. She picked up the lost puppy and spent much of the day looking for and successfully finding its owner. Just as in the way she helped this puppy in distress, her kind and caring ways were evident in all her endeavors.

Manet had the beauty of a movie star, and that beauty ran deep within her soul. She adored people, and people adored her. It was difficult to go anywhere with Manet that she did not see a friend or make a new one. She abhorred gossip and treated everyone with poise and respect. Her smile and demeanor always put everyone at ease, and she truly cared about all she knew. Manet was never too busy to console a friend or family member in need.

Family was of utmost importance to Manet. Manet made holidays special for those who attended her home festivities, and she was ecstatic whenever there was a wedding, graduation, birthday, or the birth of new grandchild or great-grandchild. She always said she had no “in-laws” only family.

Manet's greatest loss was the sudden death of her beloved daughter Sonnie to leukemia. Manet did all she could to make sure that Sonnie's children were as comfortable as possible, often taking them on trips, visiting them at summer camp, or just being there for them when they needed her.

Manet's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren treasured her ability to talk to them about anything, and they relished their time with her. Even as Alzheimer's Disease infringed on her memory, Manet welcomed all visitors to her home with a smile and a hug. The disease may have robbed her of her memory, but her beautiful, kind soul remained completely intact.

Manet is survived by A.I. Schepps, her husband of 71 years; children, Nancy and Arthur Brand, Marion and Dennis Schepps, and Gilda and Warren Sprung; grandchildren, Dale Robinson, Karen and Cary Robinson, Laurie and Ross Robinson, Caryn Honig and Scott Schepps, Melissa Schepps and Mark Feferman, Cindy and Adam Brooks of Scottsdale, Heather Sprung and Mike Meyer of Berkeley, Shawn Sprung of Austin, Shannon Sprung of Austin, Jennifer Brand and Adam Brand; ten great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law Jerrel I. and Annette Davis; sister Sonia Bloom; brother-in-law Harmon Schepps of Dallas; and numerous nephews and nieces. All will miss her caring ways.

Manet was preceded in death by parents Bertha and Abe Davis, daughter Sonnie Schepps Robinson, and sister Idelle Davis Husid.

The family of this wonderful lady wishes to thank caretakers Bernel Ogbonmwan, Valencia Hanks, Elizabeth Griffin, Faye Bazile, and Ruth Wofford for the exceptional care, concern, and dedicated assistance given in making Manet's last few years as comfortable as possible. The family also extends its gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Thomas Baxter and members of Houston Hospice, especially nurses Denise Wolever, Sharon Hempler, Claudia Commo, and Leah Aprea.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Congregation Beth Yeshurun, A. I. and Manet Schepps Bar/Bat Mitzvah Fund, 4525 Beechnut, Houston, Texas 77096; Texas A & M Hillel Foundation, 800 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840; Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030-4123; or a charity of choice.

Services will be held in the Barg Sanctuary at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, 4525 Beechnut, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, followed by graveside services at Beth Yeshurun Cemetery on Allen Parkway.