We lovingly knew her as Mame.

Her first endearing nickname began with us, her three children, and it became such a recognized and unique fixture for family and friends that many new acquaintances were surprised to learn it was not given to her at birth. While a succeeding generation would affectionately bond with her as Bebe, for the three of us, Steven, Jamie and Meegan, our mother will forever be remembered as Mame.

Raising and nurturing a close, loving family was one measure of her wealth. She devoted her life to our father Jim, and together as husband and wife they embodied in words and deeds those most important virtues: eternal faith in God, everlasting fidelity to each other, and enduring charity for many who suffer from neglect or misfortune.

In one traditional sense, our parents' five-plus decades together was partly spent in typical American fashion: Dad pursued a successful career, and Mame ran the household. Yet even with all her motherly responsibilities, she was no bystander. Mame had creative, expressive, and independent streaks as well.

She loved to cook for and plan frequent dinner parties in our home, which was often filled with boisterous friends, entertaining guests and notable fellow revelers.

As talented as she was in the kitchen, Mame was equally at home with a palette and brushes in front of a canvas. One of her favorite works captured a moment when Dad, hip-deep in a mountain stream with the tip of his fly rod bent over the strain of a brook trout, patiently worked the fish toward his waiting net.

At the time when Steve, Meegan and I were at or nearing college age, Mame decided to go back to school and earn her degree. In 1978 she graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in Political Science. We often enjoyed remembering the time when her beloved Houston Cougars hosted Earl Campbell and the Texas Longhorns the year he won the Heisman Trophy. The game was held at Rice Stadium, and she and I were there for every exciting play.

When the three of us were grown and gone, Mame and Dad had the luxury to relax and reflect on a good life, the freedom to travel the country and the world, and the time to relish their final years together.

After Dad's death in 2003, Mame focused more of her time volunteering at her parish, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and attending Mass on Saturday with her group of close friends. As our families aged and grew, Mame was blessed with six grandchildren and two great grandchildren with whom she generously shared her love and affection. Her final days were spent being comforted and surrounded by us all; three generations of family were there to honor her long and full life, and to cherish the warm memories we all now hold so dear.

Jeanne Nan Walter was born on August 9, 1930, to Leo and Sara Bailey in Baltimore, Maryland. She died on April 18, 2023, in Houston. She was preceded in death by her husband James Harold Walter, Jr. She is survived by her brother Stuart Bailey; her brother Clark Bailey and his wife Doris Bailey; and her sister Kay Frances Bowers; all of Maryland. She is also survived by her son Steven Joshua Walter and his wife Tracy Walter, of San Diego, California; son James Lincoln Walter, of Houston; and daughter Meegan Shaw Dunlap and her husband Mike Dunlap, of Houston. She is also survived by her grandchildren James Ryan Walter and Robert Thomas Walter, of Austin; Kathleen Morgan Walter, of Dallas; Kaitlin Elizabeth Cuevas and her husband James Oakley Cuevas, of Houston; and Bailey Marie Dunlap and Emily Shaw Dunlap, of Houston. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Eleanor Jeanne Cuevas and James Oakley Cuevas, Jr. of Houston.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, Texas, or the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.