Marion Barker Haas

Marion Barker Haas passed away peacefully at home on October 10, 2023, at the age of 94. Marion was the first of identical twins born on Mother's Day May 10, 1929 in Fresno, California to Edythe Bailey Barker and James Benjamin Barker. She had two older brothers as well, James and Thomas Barker. When she was five years old, her parents moved the family to Mexico City where they lived for seven years. They returned to the States to live in San Antonio in 1941 until the twins, Marion and Marilyn, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1947. The twins then attended the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in Spanish.

After a brief stint working at Frost Bank in San Antonio, Marion took a job as a flight attendant with American Airlines. This was a very glamorous and adventurous job in those days. Marion was based out of Dallas, Texas and often worked the Dallas-Mexico City-New York City route where her fluency in Spanish was an asset. As her parents had returned to Mexico City, this also allowed her to visit them frequently. Her sister later joined her at American Airlines. Together, they were chosen as the stewardesses for the presidential flight charter that accompanied President Eisenhower in 1953 on his speaking tour. They were thrilled to get to meet the President at the end of the assignment.

In 1953 Marion's roommate, Suzy Dooley, a fellow stewardess and lifelong friend, introduced her to Joseph Marshall Haas. On their first date, to Joe's delight, Marion suggested going to a University of Texas football game at the Cotton Bowl. As Joe had trained as a Navy pilot in WW2, they soon discovered a shared love of aviation as well as sports. Marion and Joe married the following year and recently celebrated their 69th anniversary, shortly before Joe's death in July. They held University of Texas football season tickets from 1967 until their passing.

Marion and Joe raised their five children in Dallas, Texas. In 1978 they purchased a vacation home on Lake Travis outside of Austin. They moved to Lakeway permanently in 1993. Marion loved sports and excelled at tennis and golf. She was active in The Hills Women's Golf Association and, at one time, served as its secretary. In addition to sports, Marion also loved music, especially the opera, having attended the Metropolitan Opera in New York City many times while she was a flight attendant. Marion was a lifetime supporter of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the Austin Opera as well.

At the end of Marion's flight attendant training, her fellow classmates voted her as the recipient of the award given to the trainee among them who best personified leadership, sweetness, cooperation, helpfulness, and friendliness. For all those who knew Marion, no better words could be found to describe her, she was truly a gentle and kind soul. She will be greatly missed.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents Edythe Baily Barker and James Benjamin Barker, her brothers James Barker Jr and Thomas Barker, her son Thomas Barker Haas, her daughter-in-law Kay Haas, her sister Marilyn Barker Heaner, and by her husband Joseph Marshall Haas. She is survived by her children Samuel Douglas Haas and wife Katie Longfield, Joseph Marshall Haas, Jr. and wife Jill, Suzanne Haas McCann and husband Patrick, and Katherine Lou Haas; grandchildren William Haas and wife Inessa, Jeffrey Haas and great grandchild Gavin Haas, Sara Haas, Joseph Haas III, Travis McCann, Patrick McCann, and Jess Quinlan and step grandson's Michael and John Patrick Quinlan.

The family would like to thank the caregivers who attended Marion. Their care and kindness greatly contributed to the quality of her life in her final years.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday November 12, 2023, at 1119 Challenger with a reception to follow.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made the charity of your choice.