Dorothy Jean Lillard De La Garza

Died June 1, 2025

Austin, Texas

From the Austin American-Statesman

Dorothy Jean Lillard De La Garza, age 81, of Austin and Inks Lake, Texas died on Ascension Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Austin. Her entry into New Life followed stroke effects complicated by declining health. Married to John De La Garza, Jr. since 1966, they lived in Washington, D.C., Houston, Austin, and Dallas before returning to Austin in 2003.

Dorothy (also known as Dottie) was a “war baby” born on March 30, 1944, to Dorothy Annette Joiner and 2nd Lt. Steve A Lillard while he was in Europe. She was reared and schooled in Chicago and San Antonio. She earned an honors Bachelor of Journalism degree from The University of Texas where she was a “Littlefield Lady,” Daily Texan news editor, president of her professional journalism sorority, and an Orange Jackets and Mortar Board member. She and John met at a 1964 football game on campus, and they are Texas Exes Life Members.

Dorothy was a dutiful daughter, devoted spouse of 58 years, mother of four children, grandmother to six, sibling to three younger brothers, and a loving aunt to several. She was an unassuming, multi-faceted and accomplished woman who creatively balanced family and work. While a working mother, she managed her home, ran carpools, cheered her children at school activities, wrote and directed children’s summer plays at the local park, and was a Girl Scout leader who once took her troop “camping” at a Galveston beach hotel. As her children grew older, she received her teaching certificate from The University of Texas at Dallas and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Southern Methodist University.

Professionally (in order) she was a Dallas Morning News reporter with White House credentials; public relations writer for Rice University; insightful Texas political party communicator; trusted senior staff aide to U.S. Senator John Tower; personal assistant to Dallas Mayor Starke Taylor; speech writer at UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and news interpreter for the school’s Nobel Prize laureate researchers; and finally, a beloved and respected middle school English teacher for 25 combined years at The Episcopal School of Dallas and St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin. Her students, and also her children and grandchildren, found that she would correct, rather directly, their spoken grammar mistakes. She always addressed her students as “Miss” and “Mr.” followed by their last name. “Respect” was her mantra and Shakespeare her unique teaching tool. She enjoyed outdoor adventure travels and archaeological trips with her students.

While living in Dallas, she and John were active at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where she was the first female lector and taught Sunday School. She fully supported John’s journey to his 2000 ordination as a permanent deacon.

Dorothy played women’s soccer with abandon on the Mudcats and Ruffians teams, earning two eyebrow cuts while contesting headers. She competed in women’s softball and was a vicious Scrabble player, endearing the game to her grandchildren and students.

A survivor of bladder cancer in her 70s, she became active with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, mentoring newly diagnosed patients across several states and organizing Austin’s first Walk to Cure Bladder Cancer in 2023.

Dorothy leaves her husband, John; children Frances (Robin) Thompson of Austin, John III (Kathy) of Richardson, Susanna Brown (partner Bill Douglas) of Ann Arbor, and Katharine (fiancé Mark Chuberka) of Austin; grandchildren Davison Thompson of Nashville, Dorothy Thompson of Boston, Jamison and Parker Brown of Ann Arbor, and Gabriela and John Robert de la Garza of Richardson; and brothers George (Diane) Lillard of Burnet and Tom (Melanie) Lillard of Dallas.

Her funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, at St. Austin Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe Street, in Austin followed by a reception in the church’s Paulist Hall. A family burial service will be later that day at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park, 4219 Park Road 4 S near Burnet. There will be a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27, at St. Austin. Harrell Funeral Homes will facilitate arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to nonprofit organizations, including Saint Louise House (saintlouisehouse.org), Central Texas Food Bank (centraltexasfoodbank.org), and the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum (umlaufsculpture.org).