She was the iconic first lady and first mother Barbara Pierce Bush. In our 20th and 21st Centuries, she was the matriarch, not only of a political family, but of our city, state and, for many years, our national identity. Barbara Bush was the epitome of the supportive, yet independent woman who was never afraid to speak her own mind, usually with humor, and that took the sting out of it.
For Houstonians, Mrs. Bush became more than the political wife and mother. She was one of us, a neighbor, a friend, a first class community volunteer….with all the clout of her powerful personality.
It was always a bit daunting to be in her presence, not because she made you feel diminished in any way, but that you wanted to live up to the incredible standard she set. It’s an admiration hard to describe and a loss to mourn.