Margaret Ingram Obituary

Margaret Ingram died September 9, 2024, at the age of 81, leaving behind a wealth of loved ones.

The eldest child of Temple Byrn Ingram and Janet Wofford Ingram, Margaret was born April 14, 1943, in San Antonio and grew up in Gilmer, where in 1960 she reigned as Queen of the East Texas Yamboree.

She graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, earned a master's degree from Girton College, University of Cambridge, and pursued postgraduate studies at Yale University. She was employed as an editor by the university presses of both UT and Texas A&M before graduating from The UT School of Law in 1985.

As an attorney Margaret went on to draft legislation for nearly two decades specializing in water law for the Texas Legislative Council, where she mentored many younger attorneys with erudition and kindness and made many devoted friends.

Margaret was an avid reader, a diehard baseball fan, a plucky traveler, and a lover of the opera, traveling to NYC and Santa Fe many times to meet friends who shared her passion. She loved discussing R&B and Rockabilly with fellow fans and film with other movie buffs. She also had a great sense of style and could certainly rock a hat. She loved visiting the family property on the Pedernales River with her faithful companion, Ziggy, and sharing it with friends.

Margaret supported a multitude of charitable organizations representing humanitarian, social justice, environmental, and political concerns.

Margaret is survived by her sister, Patricia Ingram, and her brothers, Temple Byrn Ingram, Jr. and James Wofford Ingram; her nieces, Juliet, Lonni, Sarah, Laura, Kate, and Maggie; her nephews, Matthew and Ross; and her fourteen grandnephews and two grandnieces.

She will be greatly missed by her family and by her many friends who loved and admired her.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Austin American-Statesman from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Margaret Ingram

6 Entries

Juliet Whelan

January 25, 2025

I knew Margaret as Aunt Mag. I am her eldest niece. I've been trying to sort through my thoughts and feelings about her life. These are some things I remember about her.

When I was 5:
Seeing her run around laughing with Uncle Tim. Much later I learned that around that time they had painted our childhood tiny-sized table with a sun on it. I loved that table.

Going to her house in College Station and it was elegant, with big windows and a bright green yard. Her huge dog terrified me.

When I was 8:
She made me a quilted vest that I cherished and wore regularly as part of my favorite outfit.

When I was 10:
Snapping at me because I was pressing my smudgy face against the window glass to look out on the deck at our family's River House.

When I was 15:
I was stuck at home recovering from ankle surgery and she took me to see the first Batman movie and made me feel special and adult.

And later, when I truly was an adult I remember her quick walk into Grandma's living room. Those long legs! Barrelling around stirring up whirls of energy. Casually carrying a glass of white wine with ice cubes tinkling in it.

Laughing, energetic, indefatigable, sharp, big smile, sparkling blue eyes, charm, confidence, insecure undercurrents, Texas twang, stylish, beautifully coifed, dripping silver jewelry, stridently liberal, mercurial, delighted.

As I moved around the country, she was always there, in Texas, making time to see me. Or cancelling on our plans at the last minute. Giving me precise little things she treasured.

I didn't catch her when we were walking together and she tripped on the sidewalk and broke her foot. I jumped aside afraid she would take me down. I still feel remorse.

After Covid she no longer let me into her house and I had to visit on her porch.

When she was first diagnosed with cancer a few years ago she successfully fought it. But she told me that if it was her time to go, so be it. I was struck by her courage.

At the end she showed me how to die with fearless dignity. My supremely private and energetically engaging aunt allowed me to visit her in the hospital and say goodbye. A grace she gave all her family and friends.

On her last day of consciousness, with her charm and spikiness, she reminisced about breaking her toe on my watch; casually made polite conversation with my new beau; and inquired about my plans for the week's visit to Texas (I had flown in just to see her!) She shot the breeze with the beatific glow of angels at her side.

I'm grateful I got to love her.

Rachel Alter

October 10, 2024

I met Margaret at the council as well. We were friends and neighbors for many years and we were in book club together. She welcomed me to Texas and was one of the first people I connected with here in Austin. I valued her kindness, intelligence, skill and wit. I will miss hearing her wonderful voice, her thoughtful insights and her laughter. She made my world richer and I am glad to have known her.

Heather Strain

October 5, 2024

I worked with Margaret (MI at TLC) for many years. She had a wicked sense of humor and was a good friend. Margaret was interested in my graduate thesis and offered to read it, over and over, and her input and revisions were so valuable to my work. She also continued to bring us ice cream long after her retirement! We will miss her.

Jennifer Carter

October 10, 2024

I worked with Margaret for many years at the Texas Legislative Council. She was so kind and helpful. Always available to answer questions, of which I had many. Her smile could light up a room. She will be greatly missed.
JLC

Les Case

October 6, 2024

I met Margaret in 1990. She introduced me to, among many other things, the Pedernales River at Johnson City, Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine, the music of Sidney Bechet, the Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brian, and Myers's Dark. She had a singular sense of style, a sense that prompted my husband, Eric, and I to christen a palette "Margaret Colors" and a playlist "Saturday Night at the River." She taught me to love language and to recognize and be wary of patriarchy. She stood beside me when I married Eric. She was elegant, extraordinary, and I miss her deeply.

Eric Hougland

October 6, 2024

I met Margaret in 1990 when I started working at the Texas Legislative Council. The council had hired more attorneys than it had offices for, so I was put in Margaret's office while she was vacationing in Italy. "Don't touch anything!," they warned me.
Margaret came back to work earlier than expected and was surprised to see a strange guy sitting at her desk.
Despite that awkward beginning, we became good friends, sharing movies, music and books. My husband Les and I had many pleasant weekends at her family's house on the Pedernales River. We took Margaret to our favorite places in Arizona and Utah; she took us to one of her favorite vacation spots, Monhegan Island in Maine. We will miss her.

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