Mary Esther Broadfoot Parsons was born to Thomas Marcellus (T.M.) Broadfoot & Joie Dee Williams Broadfoot on June 5, 1928, Mary was the baby of the family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother (William Andrew) and two sisters (Adie Olna Virginia & Emma Ruth). Mary died on June 5, 2019, 91 years to the day from her birth.
Born on the cusp of the Great Depression, Mary grew up in a family that struggled financially as did most families at the time. Unique to poorer families of Texas and the South, she was born to an educated family. Both of her parents were college graduates and pursued, at one time or another, professional careers. By the time she was 19 years old, she was a college graduate and married. The first of 3 children, Carolyn Yvonne, born just a few short years later was followed by Mickie Virginia and Georgia Kay. And to them all, she was Momma.
Of necessity, she was a working mother, teaching school for 35 years. She began her teaching career coaching girls’ basketball in Santa Rosa, Texas. Moving to Harlingen, she was the cheerleader sponsor for many years and then again, coached girls’ volleyball, basketball and track. She was a diligent and dedicated worker who loved her students, and who knew her students (and very frequently their parents) well. She had many stories to tell of these students
Mary was an example to us of a Christian wife and mother. Though she worked outside of the home, she prepared the meals, washed and ironed the clothes, cleaned the home, and cared for the family when they were sick. She spent her summer “vacations” sewing clothing for the girls; each of the girls (Carolyn, Mickie & Georgia) got at least two new dresses a year (one was always set aside for Sunday). And she taught them to do these things as well. Mickie was not content to make doll clothes that were flat, paper-doll like garments, and had her Momma draw patterns for dolls that included inseams, darts and gussets. Mary taught them well.
Following her retirement, she left the Rio Grande Valley and moved to Katy to be closer to family. The desire to go and see was hard-wired into Mary. Her family often joked that if you jingled the keys, she was getting into the car without asking where you were going. And go she did! Her first BIG trip was to England, Scotland & Ireland. But it wasn’t to be her last trip. “Small” journeys within the United States to various locals to see and learn something new was always an adventure – whether it was making snowshoes or weaving baskets, Mary was in the thick of it.
Her true adventures began in 1998 when she went to the Grand Canyon to live and work for 14 months, spending her spare time hiking and exploring the area. That journey was followed by a season working in Yellowstone. She went back for several months to Grand Canyon then Mount Rushmore and back again to Yellowstone. Her park adventures ended with one last trip back to the Grand Canyon. A true adventurer, she always wanted to go back again. The friendships she made while traveling are priceless. She has stayed in touch with many people over the years, connected always to those she met while adventuring and treasuring in her heart each friendship. We wish her God-speed on this, her final and most wonderful journey of all.
Mary is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Hall Harms, Mickie Parsons Warriner (Paul), and Georgia Kay Robinett; six grandchildren – Zachary Benjamin Hall, Amy Hall Vienneau (Andy), Michelle Robinett Daniel, Susan Robinett Guest (Cody), Katharyn Warriner Taylor (John) and Allison Warriner Dean (Shay); as well as eight great-grandchildren and MANY dear friends around the entire United States.
A memorial service for Mary will be held at the Katy church of Christ on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the morning. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either Bandina Christian Camp (Cecil Hutson Session) 320 Bandina Ranch Road Bandera Texas 78003 or Medina Children’s Home 21300 State Hwy 16N Medina Texas 78055.
Services
Memorial Service
Sat. Jun. 22, 2019
10:00 am
Katy Church of Christ
5458 E 5th St
Katy , TX 77493.
Katy Church of Christ
Katy , TX 77493.
Mary Esther Broadfoot Parsons was born to Thomas Marcellus (T.M.) Broadfoot & Joie Dee Williams Broadfoot on June 5, 1928, Mary was the baby of the family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother (William Andrew) and two sisters (Adie Olna Virginia & Emma Ruth). Mary died on June 5, 2019, 91 years to the day from her birth.
Born on the cusp of the Great Depression, Mary grew up in a family that struggled financially as did most families at the time. Unique to poorer families of Texas and the South, she was born to an educated family. Both of her parents were college graduates and pursued, at one time or another, professional careers. By the time she was 19 years old, she was a college graduate and married. The first of 3 children, Carolyn Yvonne, born just a few short years later was followed by Mickie Virginia and Georgia Kay. And to them all, she was Momma.
Of necessity, she was a working mother, teaching school for 35 years. She began her teaching career coaching girls’ basketball in Santa Rosa, Texas. Moving to Harlingen, she was the cheerleader sponsor for many years and then again, coached girls’ volleyball, basketball and track. She was a diligent and dedicated worker who loved her students, and who knew her students (and very frequently their parents) well. She had many stories to tell of these students
and the trials and tribulations of teaching teenagers.
Mary was an example to us of a Christian wife and mother. Though she worked outside of the home, she prepared the meals, washed and ironed the clothes, cleaned the home, and cared for the family when they were sick. She spent her summer “vacations” sewing clothing for the girls; each of the girls (Carolyn, Mickie & Georgia) got at least two new dresses a year (one was always set aside for Sunday). And she taught them to do these things as well. Mickie was not content to make doll clothes that were flat, paper-doll like garments, and had her Momma draw patterns for dolls that included inseams, darts and gussets. Mary taught them well.
Following her retirement, she left the Rio Grande Valley and moved to Katy to be closer to family. The desire to go and see was hard-wired into Mary. Her family often joked that if you jingled the keys, she was getting into the car without asking where you were going. And go she did! Her first BIG trip was to England, Scotland & Ireland. But it wasn’t to be her last trip. “Small” journeys within the United States to various locals to see and learn something new was always an adventure – whether it was making snowshoes or weaving baskets, Mary was in the thick of it.
Her true adventures began in 1998 when she went to the Grand Canyon to live and work for 14 months, spending her spare time hiking and exploring the area. That journey was followed by a season working in Yellowstone. She went back for several months to Grand Canyon then Mount Rushmore and back again to Yellowstone. Her park adventures ended with one last trip back to the Grand Canyon. A true adventurer, she always wanted to go back again. The friendships she made while traveling are priceless. She has stayed in touch with many people over the years, connected always to those she met while adventuring and treasuring in her heart each friendship. We wish her God-speed on this, her final and most wonderful journey of all.
Mary is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Hall Harms, Mickie Parsons Warriner (Paul), and Georgia Kay Robinett; six grandchildren – Zachary Benjamin Hall, Amy Hall Vienneau (Andy), Michelle Robinett Daniel, Susan Robinett Guest (Cody), Katharyn Warriner Taylor (John) and Allison Warriner Dean (Shay); as well as eight great-grandchildren and MANY dear friends around the entire United States.
A memorial service for Mary will be held at the Katy church of Christ on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the morning. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either Bandina Christian Camp (Cecil Hutson Session) 320 Bandina Ranch Road Bandera Texas 78003 or Medina Children’s Home 21300 State Hwy 16N Medina Texas 78055.
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