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Beatrice P. Rickert, beloved and cherished mother and grandmother, the brightest star in the family, left this life October 2, 1999. She was born on Constitution Day, September 17, 1910 in Houston, TX to Constantine and Mary Legate Pierros. After graduating from high school in Houston, she accompanied her parents to Mercedes in the Rio Grande Valley before enrolling at the Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, TX, Class of 1932. Vivacious and popular, she was class president her two years there and also taught swimming and diving. An accomplished pianist, she had her own radio show at KPRC in Houston during the summers. She was also associated for years with the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago. During the depression, she left college to become the sole support of her parents, working as a legal secretary at the Federal Land Bank for Sam Houston Johnson, the brother of the future president. On May 2, 1935 she married the love of her life, Edward J. Rickert with whom she had four children and 56 years of extraordinary happiness. Because of frequent asthmatic attacks, she moved with her family to New Mexico in 1940. During World War II while her husband served in the U.S. Navy, she and the children returned to Houston where she worked in secretarial positions in the private sector. After World War II, the family returned to New Mexico where she worked at Cannon Air Force Base and was the organist at St. James Episcopal Church in Clovis. She and her family later moved to Carlsbad where she worked in both the private and public sectors. Shortly after the family moved to Albuquerque in the mid 1960's, she was severely injured in a fall at the Federal Aviation Administration, where she was employed. After 15 years of rehabilitation, she was able to walk unassisted, drive, cook, and care for her family. Since her husband's death in 1991, she lived with her daughters, first in Santa Fe and in recent years at the family home in Albuquerque. She was preceded in death by her husband; son, John; brothers, John and Ralston Carmaneti; and sister, Clarice Norsworthy. She is survived by her daughters, Kay Marr and Bea Bevell of Albuquerque; son, Edward and wife, Donna of Columbia, SC; grandsons, Bryan and fiance, Christine Esckilsen of San Diego, CA, Bret of San Francisco, CA, Stephen and Rick of Kansas City, MO, Stuart and wife, Kelly of Frisco, TX, Michael and wife, Cindy of Enid, OK, Bruce and wife, Phyllis of McKinney, TX, and Adrian and Jeff of Birmingham, AL; great-granddaughters, Katy Bea, Whitney, Mehan and Nicole. Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held Monday, October 18, 1999, 1:30 p.m. at St. Mark's on the Mesa Episcopal Church, 431 Richmond Pl. NE. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Rickert's name to St. Mark's Memorial Fund, 431 Richmond Pl. NE, 87106. After interment, friends will be welcome at the family home, 2036 Palomas NE. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE.
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