Vera Alma Preston-Jaeger

Vera Alma Preston Jaeger, 78, of Bastrop, Texas, passed peacefully at New Haven Assisted Living and Memory Care facility on March 29, 2021.  A recording of her memorial service can be accessed with the passcode 3A$W+$*4 using the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/fRCHe2-1VIZ-8MCA3JWRun8rV3VWiBPTPeHnAWrz9RILlrc2ox0l6DghwSDEhIvH.qNcGB1ZbBa3wLE6M

Vera was born on May 30, 1942, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Liberty and Joe Preston, and she was the oldest of 4 sisters.  Vera attended Oklahoma State University, joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and majored in education.  Following college graduation, she was accepted into the Peace Corps and lived/worked in Banos, Tungurahua, Ecuador from 1962-1964.  Her time in the Peace Corps helped shape her determination to make a difference in the lives of people in general, and teaching math, was an outlet for that need to serve.

She continued her life-long pursuit of learning with the completion of a Masters in Education from the University of Maine in Orono and a Doctoral degree in Math Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993.

Vera was known to most as being a passionate person on the topics of education, politics, and family.  Whatever she chose to get involved in, she believed in whole-heartedly, and was not hesitant to share her opinion, whether asked for or not.  She was loyal and fiercely protective of the people she loved.

She taught math at the junior high school, high school, community college and university level through her working years.  She presented workshops at multiple education seminars and continuing education programs, with a special focus on teaching women who were anxious about learning math.  She was recognized by the State of Oklahoma for the development of a “mathematics and science curricula in Elementary and Secondary Education for American Indians and Alaska Native Students”.  She retired in 1998, but was a regular attendee of the Board of Trustees of Bastrop Independent School District for many years.  She continued to work independently, as a math tutor, for many years and also worked with the Colorado School of Mines to help other teachers with education methods to assist with math skills in students.

Vera’s desire to educate and expand knowledge was also evident on a personal level.  When diagnosed with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, she was treated by the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic, traveling to Minnesota to participate in ongoing assessments and pharmaceutical trials, in hopes that her unusual condition might be better understood and help others in the future.  As you may know, she did not take traveling to cold places lightly.

Vera stayed active as long as she was able with her favorite organizations and charities. She was an Emeritus member of the board for the Bass Whitehead Scott Scholarship funds for people in the Bastrop area.  She actively participated with members of the Family Crisis Center, which is a resource and service center that focuses on addressing and preventing domestic abuse.  She regularly attended the Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop until recent years.  She and her husband had a great group of friends that shared many lunches and dinners together.  Several of these friends shared their interest in the outdoors and birding with membership in Audubon societies.

She and her husband traveled the world in their 22-year marriage, with cruise ships being a favorite mode of travel, but not shying away from flying to places a ship cannot navigate.  They focused on visiting interesting locations, and trips to see family and friends.  They were supportive companions for each other, and Alan was a good caregiver for Vera for many years.

Vera is survived by her son Mark Callahan, his wife Pam and grandsons Conner and Justin; her daughter Melissa Rainwater, her husband Tim and grandchildren Jordan, Randy, Hannah, and Lydia; step-sons Eric Jaeger; Josh Jaeger, wife Ysabel and step-grandchild Sebastian and Alexander.  She is survived by her sisters Trish Preston; Trula (husband Ron) Daugherty; Libby Brown; and their families: Michelle, Brad, Ryan and Emily Polk; Ami, James, Joe, and Jessie Reed; Preston and Phin Parrott; Chad, Becki, Cash, Colt, Able and Daxon Daugherty; Josh, Jessica and Wyatt Daugherty;  Ryan, Cady, Nettie, and Chet Brown; Jenny Brown.  Her husband, Alan Jaeger, pre-deceased her last year, July 7, 2020.

If you wish to honor Vera, mail donations to Family Crisis Center, PO Box 736 Bastrop, Texas 78602, a 501(c)3 organization or donate online at family-crisis-center.org.

Memorial Service at 1:00pm CST on Saturday, April 10, 2021