Marilyn Flaitz Andrews December 18, 1937 - May 31, 2026
Marilyn Flaitz Andrews, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and cherished
lifelong member of the Houston community, passed away peacefully at her home on
May 31, 2026. She was 88 years old. Born in Houston, Texas, on December 18,
1937, to John Means ("Jack") and Mabel Hickman Flaitz, Marilyn was
known for her grace, warmth, and unwavering kindness.
Marilyn grew up in Houston, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood that shaped
her love for her hometown. At St. John's School, she formed close, lifelong
friendships that reflected her loyalty and warmth. She graduated from M. B.
Lamar High School in 1956, where she was honored as a Sweetheart in the school
yearbook. She continued her education at Northwestern University and the
University of Texas at Austin, where she found lifelong sisterhood as a member
of Kappa Alpha Theta, before completing her degree at H. Sophie Newcomb
Memorial College in New Orleans. After graduation, Marilyn taught school in New
Orleans for two years, an experience that reflected her nurturing spirit and
commitment to others.
Back in Houston, Marilyn embraced motherhood in Houston with wholehearted
devotion, becoming the steady heart of her home. She was a faithful homeroom
mother and tireless chauffeur to lessons and activities for Edmund, Katherine,
and Martha, while encouraging their creativity and giving them the freedom to
explore. Family meals at home were a cherished priority, and she took equal
delight in entertaining the many friends of both her children and her own.
In 1992, Marilyn married the love of her later life, Bolivar Andrews, and
together they built a partnership of remarkable warmth and devotion. Bolivar
stood by her side with unwavering loyalty and tenderness, especially during the
final years of her life, and his love was among the greatest gifts and comforts
she knew.
A devoted participant in the civic and social life of her beloved Houston,
Marilyn gave generously of her time and talents to the Junior League of
Houston, the Houston Country Club, the River Oaks Country Club, Bolero, and
Allegro. She was also a cherished member of Linville Golf Club, and among the
greatest pleasures in her later years were the summers she and Bolivar spent
together in Linville, North Carolina.
It was through her passion for floral design, however, that Marilyn found one
of her truest callings. She joined the River Oaks Garden Club in 1977 and
remained a devoted member for nearly fifty years - just one year short of that
golden milestone at the time of her passing. Through the River Oaks Garden Club
and the Garden Club of America, she channeled her love of beauty and her
artistic eye into a pursuit she embraced with skill and joy. She competed in
flower arrangement competitions for many decades, earning numerous blue ribbons
at flower shows. In 2004, she was honored with the prestigious GCA Harriet
DeWaele Puckett Creativity Award, and in 2014, she received the River Oaks
Garden Club Floral Design Achievement Award. She also served as a Garden Club
of America Floral Design Judge, a role that reflected the respect her peers
held for her knowledge and discernment. Her garden, too, was a source of
happiness and pride, and her home and garden were featured on the Houston
Azalea Trail. Above all, time with her grandchildren brought her the purest
delight.
Marilyn is survived by her devoted husband, Bolivar Andrews; her three children
and their spouses: Edmund and Ellecia Knolle, Katherine and Davis Thames, and
Martha and John Charles "JC" Melcher IV; her stepdaughter, Jeannette
Dickinson Andrews; her sister, Jane Flaitz DeYoung; her half-brother, George
Flaitz; her seven grandchildren, Mary Margaret Knolle, Kathryn Knolle, Marie
Knolle, Guy Knolle, Davis Thames, Caroline Thames, and William Thames; and her
five step-grandchildren, Andrew Stewart, Dillon Stewart, Shelby Stewart, Mary
Catherine Stewart, and Juliette Stewart. All of whom were a source of
immeasurable pride and delight to her. She was preceded in death by her beloved
parents, Jack and Mable Flaitz, and by her stepchildren, Bolivar Andrews III
and Mary Andrews.
Marilyn lived her life with elegance and intention, and she leaves behind a
legacy of love, beauty, and faithful friendship.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Marilyn's memory are encouraged to
make a donation to the River Oaks Garden Club in Houston, Texas.
Services
Family visitation will be held at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors on
Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held
at St. Martin's Episcopal Church on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Houston Chronicle on Jun. 7, 2026.
