PRESLEY EWING WERLEIN III

1946-2017

Presley Ewing Werlein III (Chip) was born in Houston, Texas on August 16, 1946 and passed away due to complications of a stroke on May 13, 2017.

Chip grew up in Houston and attended Lamar High School, during which he served as class President as well as met his future wife and built life-long friendships. He then went on to attain a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Texas. During his time at UT, he became a Texas Cowboy and a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, serving as fraternity President during his senior year. Both organizations remained important to him throughout his life, as did the friendships he made throughout his time at UT.

Chip returned to his adored hometown after college, and married his high school sweetheart in 1971. Chip and his partner, Victor Harris, started the accounting firm Werlein and Harris in 1978 where he served as President until his untimely death. Chip loved his colleagues and his work, and kept an entrepreneurial spirit throughout his life.

Chip was civic minded and served on countless boards over the years, including The Kinkaid School, where his daughters attended school, for 15 years. Most recently, he served on the Board of Directors at Greater Houston Preservation Alliance and the Foundation for Teen Health. He found great solace in the Catholic religion, and attended church services at St. Thomas or St. Anne’s weekly.

Chip was an amazing story teller. He was funny, engaging, inclusive, and had a heart of gold. Chip never met a stranger! If you happened to sit next to him on a plane, in a bar, or business meeting you would have a new friend. He had a zest for life and new ideas.

Chip had many passions, most notably fishing and music, especially jazz and blues. Some of his best memories were of the fishing trips he took with his many friends. He also passed his love of fishing to his girls on trips to Belize. He also gave his love of music to his daughters. He and his daughter Clair went to concerts for Etta James, B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, and Bonnie Raitt. He made the best Bloody Mary, and they became a family tradition and bragging point for his daughters.

Chip was a beloved husband, father, and friend. He was fair, kind, generous, gregarious, fun, sentimental, caring, and loyal to a fault. He treasured his friendships and family above all else. Despite his busy schedule, he always had time for them. The outpouring of love that his family has received from those that knew Chip has been overwhelming and greatly appreciated. He will be deeply and forever missed, but remembered by everyone that he touched throughout his very full life.

Chip was preceded in death by his mother, Marjorie Sinclair Werlein, his father, Judge Presley Ewing Werlein Jr., and his sister, Patricia Werlein. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Tetine Sentell Werlein, his two daughters, Mary Sinclair (Clair) Werlein and Kathryn Sentell Werlein, and countless friends.

A Rosary will be held at Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Memorial & Funeral Services, 1734 W. Alabama St in Houston, on Monday May 22nd from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening. A memorial mass will be said at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Rd in Houston, on Tuesday, May 23rd at two o’clock in the afternoon, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Preservation Houston, preservationhouston.org, 3272 Westheimer Rd., #2, Houston, TX 77098, or the Foundation for Teen Health, foundationforteenhealth.org, 2726 Bissonnet St., #240168, Houston, TX 77005.