Elizabeth Rivers Stayton

Mrs. Elizabeth Rivers Stayton passed away Friday, June 3, 2011. She was born Sept. 9, 1914, to Lucy Blocker Rivers and William Howard Rivers Jr. in Elgin, Texas, and is a fourth generation Texan. She graduated from Elgin High School at age 16 and went to college at Sophie Newcomb in New Orleans. She pledged Kappa Alpha Theta and was initiated at Theta national convention in Estes Park, Col.

As a teenager she began training as a classical pianist in New York City. She returned to Texas to complete college at the University of Texas, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.

After she met and married her husband, John W. Caudill, they moved to his home in Blytheville where they lived for more than 30 years, raising their four children. While in Blytheville, she was active as a church organist and became a pilot flying her own plane.

In 1970, she returned to Austin and in 1976, married R.B. Rylander, who died unexpectedly later that year. After moving to Austin, she joined the Theta Sewing Club and the Austin Book Club. She continued her interest in classical music and became active with the Austin Lyric Opera. Several years later, she married Jack Stayton. She was always very active in her communities and especially loved her travels throughout the world.

She leaves her four children and their spouses, Lucy and her husband, Victor Kormeier, John Caudill and wife, Claire, Bill Caudill and wife, Chris, and Judy and husband, Bill Atkinson; and

Seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A special thanks is due to her caregivers and especially to her long-time helpers, Ina Jo Graham and Tiburcio Vasquez.

The family will receive friends at her home from 6-8 p.m. Friday Friday. A memorial service will be conducted at St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin at 10 a.m. Saturday. Inurnment is 3 p.m. the same day at Elgin Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Elizabeth Stayton to St. David's Church, 301 E. 8th St., Austin, TX 78701; Episcopal High School Endowment Fund, 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401; First United Methodist Church, 216 W. 3rd St., Elgin, TX 78621; or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements and care are entrusted to the staff of Elgin Funeral Home.