DORA HOEFLICH SCOTT-NICHOLS
08/01/1927 - 02/18/2023
Dora Hoeflich ScottNichols – who danced her way through life devoted to teaching and learning – died Saturday February 18, 2023, in Houston, Texas. She was 95.
Born on August 1, 1927, in Houston, Texas, Dora Mae was the youngest child and only daughter of Dr. Carl William Hoeflich and Dora Matilda Werner Hoeflich.
Dora attended St. Agnes Academy before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She once said graduating from UT was one of her proudest achievements and remained a proud Texas Longhorn throughout her life.
She went on to earn her Master of Education from the University of Houston in 1952, walking across the graduation stage pregnant. She also earned post-graduate certificates – supervisor, principal, special education and superintendent.
She worked in Houston Independent School District where she taught various grades until retiring after 40 years as an elementary teacher of special education.
Dora married William H. “Scotty’’ Scott, Jr. in 1948 after a long friendship dating back to a chance meeting in a ballroom dancing class. They enjoyed a full life of travel with family and friends – ranging from lazy summer days in Seabrook or Concan with their four children to jaunts to Egypt and Italy – until Scotty’s death in 1987.
In 1988, Dora met Charlie E. Nichols at a square dance which led to marriage in 1990. They continued to dance and took long road trips across the United States to see the autumn leaves change. He preceded her in death in 2011.
Dora was slight in stature but bigger than life. Family and friends remember Dora as someone with an easy laugh.
A lifelong learner, she was a voracious consumer of information and current events. When discussing any hot topic, she might not always agree but was rarely disagreeable.
Dora was passionate about watching and cheering for the Houston Astros. Whether it was at the ballpark or watching the Astros win two World Series titles on TV, she would don her Astros baseball hat and loudly cheer for her team.
Professionally, Dora remained politically involved and committed to education throughout her life.
She was president of the Texas State Teachers Association, the Houston Teachers Association and served on the board of directors of the National Education Association representing Texas. She served on the Texas Commission on Standards for the Teaching Profession and was president of the Association of Teachers Educators and president of the Texas Cooperative Teacher Center Network. She also served as U.S. representative to the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession.
As a retiree and president of the Texas Retired Teachers Association from 2008 to 2012, she would drive across the state in her late 80s meeting with retirees. During her term as president, Dora prepared a legislative initiative focused on providing retirees a sound retirement fund and their first cost of living increase in more than a decade. Thanks to Dora’s hard work and leadership both of those goals were achieved in the 2013 legislative session – the last time any Texas Teacher Retirement System retiree received a cost of living increase in Texas.
In 2015, she was recognized by TRTA with the E.L. Galyean Service award, TRTA’s highest honor.
She also was president of the Houston Association of Retired Teachers and was a founding trustee of the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. She was involved in local groups and organizations including as a Life Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Ladies Go Texan Committee, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the Junior League of Houston.
Dora was preceded in death by her brothers Dr. Werner Hoeflich and Carl W. Hoeflich, Jr. and her son-inlaw Craig Fundling.
Survivors include her children: William H. Scott III and Joan Scott; Carl W. Scott and Livia Bornigia; Susan Dorothea Scott-Fundling; Stefanie Scott and Rick Crumly; daughter-in-law Pam Pepperell; as well as her grandchildren: Dr. Kelly Scott
Birt and Dr. Bradley Birt; Amanda Scott-Shirley and Shawn Shirley; David Scott; Sarah Scott Miller and Clark Miller; Scott Fundling; Abigail Fundling; along with five sweet great-grandchildren: Brady Blair Birt; Brendan Blair Birt; Aralyn Tresa Shirley; William Michael Shirley; and William Henry Scott Miller.
She also is survived her brother Dr. Bert J. Hoeflich of Portland, Oregon.
Dora was philanthropic and supported several charities and causes. Anyone wishing to donate to a charitable cause in her memory should consider St. Agnes Academy and the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation, two of her favorite organizations.
The family expresses special gratitude to the caregivers, doctors, hospitals, hospice nurses and the support of friends over the years.
Arrangements are by Earthman Funeral Directors with a visitation planned from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday February 23, 2023 at Earthman Funeral Directors at 8303 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77024. A service celebrating her life is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday February 24, 2023, at Earthman Funeral Directors at 8303 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77024, followed by burial at Washington Cemetery.