OBITUARY Sarah Jane “Sally” Neuhaus February 12, 1942 – August 16, 2018 Sarah Jane “Sally” Neuhaus, 76, of Somerville, formerly of Houston passed from this world on Thursday, August 16, 2018. A celebration of Sally’s life will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Memorial Funeral Chapel, 2901 Texas Ave. South, College Station, TX 77845 with visitation following.
Sally didn’t like “puttin’ on airs,” and in keeping with this spirit, please dress casual and bring your best Sally stories to celebrate her life. She dearly loved animals all of her life. As a teen, she trained her horse to perform over a hundred tricks and regularly competed in barrel racing at the Simonton Rodeo.
One time, she was grounded and had a broken leg. She wanted to ride so much, she snuck out of her second-story bedroom and barrel-raced with a full leg cast. In the late ‘60s, Sally knew the curator of the Houston Zoo and she got a baby skunk to keep as a pet.
She found out right off that skunks didn’t like water and so did all the other families in the complex since the air ducts were connected! In the suburbs of Houston, Sally raised chickens behind the garage, until one day Gertrude jumped the fence and attended a garden party uninvited and that was the end of that. Sally just couldn’t tolerate anyone abusing or mistreating an animal.
Never one to sit on the sideline, she was an original founder of the Citizens for Animal Protection (CAPS) program, in Houston, which is still in existence. Longing for open spaces and enough land for critters, Sally moved to Somerville in the ‘90s. She had horses, emus, llamas, flying squirrels, chinchillas, rabbits, chickens and too much else to list.
Sally loved to explore and learn about the world around her, she found something to marvel every day of her life. Few people know that Sally earned her pilots license, while she only flew solo a few times she was proud to say she could. Only weeks ago, she recalled how glad she was that she had to learn all about air currents and conditions because she used that information ever since.
A recovering alcoholic with a huge heart and desire to give back, Sally went to college in her 50s. She drove from Somerville, Texas to Houston Community College every day. She earned her degree in drug and alcohol counseling to be able to help others find their way.
Realizing her heart was just too tender for that field, she took a job at Dillard’s in College Station while deciding what to do next. She enjoyed working there so much she remained for over 14 years. She earned countless awards and made longtime friends, many of whom she kept in contact.
A free spirit, Sally was a rare combination of big city meets country with a childlike enthusiasm for learning, a love of nature and every living thing. Sally will be deeply and dearly missed by her family and countless friends. May Sally’s love, joy and laughter forever remain with you.
The family extends its deepest thanks to Sally’s dear longtime friends, Victor and Celeste Hejek and Sue Sanders for your love and the gift of your friendship.
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