82-year-old Texas church member killed in robbery at her home

Marie Gage, an 82-year-old member of the Westbury Church of Christ in Houston, was robbed and killed in her home Thursday night.
Her husband, Bill, 84, a fellow Westbury member, survived the attack.

Bill and Marie Gage, in a family picture. (Photo via Houston Chronicle, www.chron.com)

The couple’s daughter Loa Glenn tells Houston-area media that the family relies on its faith and knows God has a plan. Loa’s husband, Greg Glenn, is head of school at Westbury Christian School, next to the church.
Marie Gage’s “wonderful family is hurting but knows she is with the Lord,” Westbury Christian School Bible teacher Steve Hawley wrote on his Facebook page. Hawley paid tribute to the Gages in a special post on his blog.
A front-page Houston Chronicle story today provides details of the crime:

Marie Gage often wore unique jewelry that stood out, including a 4-carat diamond wedding ring and 3-carat pendant necklace.
Police believe that her jewelry may have caught the eye of a man who decided to follow Gage, 82, home and later rob her.
She and her 84-year-old husband, Bill, were beaten and kicked by the man after he forced his way into the retired couple’s southwest Houston home about 8:45 p.m. Thursday. Marie Gage died from the attack.
The robber stole her wedding ring and a pendant necklace along with two other rings, one topaz and the other sapphire, then fled the home in the 5700 block of Sanford, said HPD homicide Sgt. C. Elliot.
“It was not a random act,” said Elliot, calling Gage’s death “senseless.”

Read the full report.

• Feedback
  This is really a shame! When traveling we are told to not wear our jewelry, loud type clothes and such. That is reasonable; HOWEVER, we should not have those same restrictions in our humble home and neighborhood, church, town, and community. Such a sad state of affairs when our elderly, or anyone else for that matter, is treated that way. Our prayers go out to all the family.

  Gerri Means

  January, 16 2012

  So sorry for the family. The only good thing is she is safe in the arms of Jesus right now. 🙁

  Adonia Becerra

  January, 18 2012

  What an awful thing to happen to anyone! My sympathies to her husband, children, family and Church family at this terrible time!

  Susie Tidwell

  January, 19 2012

  May the presence of God’s tender hands hold yours to uphold and comfort you with his strength in this time of sorrow. May the condolence prayers offered by caring communities of neighbors comfort your hearts.

  John Matsumoto

  January, 19 2012

  My prayers are for her family. This is a terrible thing to happen to someone, and a very sad thing for her family. May God’s tender mercy strengthen her family. Thank God for His precious and eternal hope.

  James Haney

  January, 19 2012