Pearl Schavrda Noviskie Meyer, 83, died at Kruse Village in Brenham on Wed., March 30, 2011.

Funeral services were held at Knesek Funeral Home in Bellville on April 1, 2011. Reverends Jennie Jones and David Henske officiated at the services. 

Pearl was born Nov. 11, 1927 to Joe and Ida Schavrda. She was raised in Bellville and graduated from Bellville High School in 1945.

On Jan. 15, 1946, she married B.T. “Cotton” Noviskie at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bellville. They were happily married for 46 years and raised three children.

Three years after Cotton’s death, Pearl married Walter Meyer and they were married for 11 years until his death in 2002.

Pearl and Cotton moved their family to Bellville in 1952 where Pearl was a lifelong member of the St. John Lutheran Church and an active member in the VFW while raising a family and working at Paul’s Pharmacy and Schuman’s Dress Shop.

Then in 1969, Cotton was appointed Chief Deputy of Austin County and Pearl gave up her private residence to move into the Austin County Jail. From there, she took an active role in making sure the jail’s living quarters were a home to her family while helping Cotton with the operations of the jail and management of its prisoners.  

She became an active member of the Austin County Historical Society and was instrumental in obtaining the jail’s state historical commission medallion.  Along with taking an active role in upgrading the jail’s family living quarters, she was involved in many tours for school age children.  She played a key role in helping the jail obtain its museum status and served many years on the Austin county Jail Museum board.  

Pearl is survived by two daughters and son-in-laws: Diana and Otto Morris of Frisco; Brenda and Eddie Galle of Brenham; and one son and daughter in-law, Bruce and Linda Noviskie of Houston; stepson and daughter-in-law Mike and Kayla Meyer of Austin; stepdaughter Debbie Van Eman of Austin; grandchildren Christopher and Julie Galle of Brenham, Brian Noviskie of Georgetown; Courtney Galle of The Woodlands; Matthew and Kortney Noviskie of Bellville; Craig Morris of Frisco; Justin Noviskie of Bellville; Gretchen and Chad Vogler of Brenham; and Adam and Megan Noviskie of Bellville; step grandchildren Megan Meyer, Austin Meyer, Jessica Meyer and Faith Meyer all of Austin; great grandchildren Wyatt Noviskie of Bellville; Katelyn Galle of Brenham; and Blakley Noviskie of Bellville; and one great grandchild, Baby Vogler, due in October; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Arthur Louis of Bellville, and sister Viola Krueger of Bellville and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Cotton Noviskie and Walter Meyer; her parents, Joe and Ida Schavrda; brother, Albert “Bootsie” Schavrda; sister, Elfrieda Schluens; brothers-in-law, Sidney Schluens and Sidney Krueger; sister- in-law Ruby Schavrda Maddox; and niece and goddaughter Laraine Fitch. 

Pallbearers were her six grandsons: Christopher Galle, Brian Noviskie, Matthew Noviskie, Craig Morris, Justin Noviskie and Adam Noviskie. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Austin County Jail Museum, Brazos Valley Hospice, American Cancer Society or St John Lutheran Church.