Julia Alice (McFaddin) Reilly died peacefully Jan. 15, 2015, in Marble Falls, at the age of 90. Julia was born in Beaumont, Texas, on Nov. 24, 1924, and was the youngest and last surviving child of Charles Walter and Mabel Maurine (Dugger) McFaddin. Her father was variously a Texas Ranger, a cattleman, a rancher, a farmer and a businessman, and her mother was a school teacher.
Julia’s parents moved to Arizona when she was young, and she attended schools in Casa Grande and worked during World War II for U.S. Defense Department contractors. Shortly after the war, she moved to San Antonio, where she met her husband, Eugen E.J. “Gene” Reilly. They married in 1952.
In her busy life, she worked as a railroad clerk for Southern Pacific Railroad, an executive secretary for the presidents of Southern Steel Corp. and Highland Lakes National Bank, a real estate agent and broker and a mother to three children.
Julia and Gene began raising their young family in San Antonio, the base of the road construction business that Gene, his brother Art and his mother, Louise Maupin, owned. In 1968, Julia and Gene decided they wanted to raise their family in the Highland Lakes and moved to Granite Shoals. They later moved across the lake to Blue Lake Estates.
Julia got started in the real estate business when she worked for the developers of Meadowlakes on Lake Marble Falls, and she thereafter went to work for NGD Realtors. Julia and Gene (who had just sold his part of the family company to his brother) started Reilly Real Estate in Marble Falls in 1978, and she remained active as a real estate broker until her retirement at the age of 84 in 2008. She served as president of the Highland Lakes Board of Realtors in 1978 and received the board’s Trailblazer Award in 2002. She also served as a board member and president of the Highland Lakes Tourist Association.
Julia loved her family and her work. In the real estate business, she set a standard for ethical practices, and her customers loved her dearly. Her humor and disposition could brighten any room or place she visited. She loved humor and remained active with her friends and family for her entire life, getting out in public as often as she could, including being with friends and family on her 90th birthday and for the past Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. She lived to provide joy to others, and she succeeded without limitation.
Julia was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers, Charles Walter McFaddin, Allen Minor McFaddin, James Ellis McFaddin and William Roy McFaddin; and sisters, Lelia Rachel McFaddin Fawcett, Florence McFaddin, Lucile McFaddin, Nellie McFaddin Dissler, Ruth McFaddin Schwartz and Sylvia Mabel McFaddin Cicora.
Julia is survived by her children, Amy McMurrough and husband Dan, Susan Potts and husband Steve Gibbs and Frank Reilly and partner Seth Smith; grandchildren, Erin Leigh McMurrough Grosskopf and husband Eric, Matthew Gibbs and wife Erica and Kyle Gibbs; great-grandchildren, Jaydon, Grayson and Olivia Gibbs; sister-in-law Constance “Connie” McFaddin of Ellicott City, Maryland; brother-in-law Fred Hudspeth Maupin and sister-in-law Lynnette McCoy Maupin of Deer Park; many nieces and nephews and great- (and great-great) nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
Her family thanks the wonderful and caring staff of the Granite Mesa Healthcare facility for keeping Julia comfortable not only in her final days, but also during her last years there.
A service is 2 p.m. Jan. 24 at at Trinity Episcopal Church, 909 Ave. D in Marble Falls, with the Rev. David Sugeno officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeland Hills Cemetery near Marble Falls.
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be given to The Helping Center of Marble Falls, c/o Trinity Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 580, Marble Falls, TX 78654; or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Austin-Peel and Son Funeral Home, 607 E. Anderson Lane in Austin, (512) 419-7224. Go to www.austinpeel.com to offer condolences.
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