Dwan Michele Stogner

Our dearly loved Dwan “Michele” Stogner, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend left this world Wednesday, July 19^th, 2023. Michele was born in Okinawa, Japan on August 15th, 1962, to Margaret Wildman Scott and Marshall Stogner and was raised in Killeen and Austin, Texas. Growing up she played sports and was an exceptional athlete, excelling in both basketball and softball. Michele loved the water and spending time on Lake Travis. She spent much of her time boating, waterskiing, and floating in the water with her many friends and family.

Blessed with an innate gift for creativity, Michele used that gift throughout her life in entrepreneurial ways. As a young woman, Michele built and sold unique CD racks, wooden Christmas yard cutouts, neon signs, and custom planters used in homes and businesses across the Austin area. For the last 30 years, Michele owned and ran MS & Company, a successful paint and remodeling company.  Michele established a solid reputation as a respected professional, a no-nonsense boss, a tireless hard worker, and someone who truly appreciated the lifelong relationships she built with her clients. With MS & Company, Michele could be found every spring and summer at the University of Texas campus restoring and refreshing the dorms and apartment complexes in the neighborhoods around campus for the incoming students. After completing that summer “rush” each year, Michele would often enjoy taking a well-deserved break and an extended vacation to Roatan, Honduras, one of her favorite escapes to relax and enjoy the ocean.

Although Michele loved all that living in an exciting city like Austin had to offer, she grew to love the Texas Hill Country even more. She bought property in Medina and embraced the hillbilly lifestyle. She was often seen on an excavator digging around her swimming hole or on a backhoe working on her property.  She loved feeding her birds and deer.   She would sit on her back deck and watch them enjoy her peaceful place. She hiked, explored caves, rode her four-wheeler, and visited her favorite place on her property, Serenity Hill. When Michele needed a bit more excitement, you might catch her riding her Harley Davidson on the winding country roads in and around Bandera. Her many friends loved to get away and spend time with her at her amazing place in the country.

And always by her side, no matter where she lived, in the big city or out in the hills, were her beloved pups. Michele adored her dog Houston, a Lhasa Apso who was her partner in crime for fifteen wonderful years. After Houston, she got her sweet baby girl, Riley, a Shih Tzu who has treasured being a country dog.

Of her many positive attributes, the best one Michele possessed was her big heart. She spent her life loving others and taking in anyone or thing who needed a friend, a kind word, or a place to stay — often forgetting to take care of herself in the process. But it made her happy to be surrounded by friends and family, and to share adventures with all.

Michele was loved and adored by those who knew her, and she will be greatly missed. When you think of Michele, please remember her beautiful blue eyes, stunning white hair, unique style, her big easy laugh, and her love for the outdoors. Celebrate her in your memories and live your life to the fullest. 

Michele is survived by her sister Monique Fullbright (Chris), half-sister Marsha Stogner (Stuart Jones), half-brother Tracy Stogner (Pauline Cordova), nephews Grant and Garrett Marumoto, Nathan Cohn and niece Allison Cohn Poccia (John), Uncle Ron Wildman (Josephine), her business partner Alberto “Beto” Nunez, numerous cousins, and too many friends to count. She is preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grandparents Jarrell and Bertie Wildman, and paternal grandparents Doyle and Nannie Mae Stogner.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Medina Children’s Home, a place very dear to Michele.  The address is 21300 TX-16 North, Medina, TX 78055 or online at www.armsofhope.org.

 Michele's Celebration of Life will be Sunday, September 17th at Ranch Austin from 4 to 8pm.  Ranch Austin is located at 10313 Circle Drive, Austin, Tx 78736.  We will have hors d'oeuvres, drinks, listen to some of her favorite music, and share the fellowship of being with family and friends as we celebrate Michele.  We will not have a formal service.