Mary Wedel Hawthorne

Mary Hawthorne, 90, former 60 year resident & native of Natchitoches, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2019 at her home in Temple, Texas, surrounded by her family.  A Celebration of her life is planned in a few weeks in Natchitoches.  Family preceding her in death are: her husband of 65 years, H.G., & their 4-legged “babies”, her 2 beloved sons, baby Ralph Long & Johnny Long; her parents Ralph Wedel & Masiena J. Wedel Beaudoin, & her much loved Grandma Mary Watley. Survivors are 4 daughters:  Sherrie Phipps/Larry, Sugar Land, TX, Camille & Nanette Hawthorne, Temple, TX, Cecile Allen/Steve, Leander, TX;  5 Grandchildren: Jason Phipps/Mary Ellen, Sugar Land, TX, Whitney Shanks/Thomas, Austin, TX, Taylor Bettis/Brett Davis, Leander, TX & Hunter Bettis, Leander, TX; & her 4-legged granddaughter Sissy, Temple, TX;  3 Great Grandchildren: Parker Shanks, Austin, TX, & Lucie & Grace Mary Phipps, Sugar Land, TX; Daughter-in- law, Kay Long, Shreveport, very Special 5th Daughters: Sue Kennedy, Ginger Lindsey Picone, & Darlene Rachel Elliot; & dear friends Dot Lindsey & Rose Matthews. Mary’s longtime wish was to donate her body to science; she will be studied at Texas A&M Health Science.  When completed, a tree will be planted in Texas A&M’s Memorial Garden by the Class which studies Mary’s donor group.  She will join the memory of HG, in the Garden, near the tree of his donor’s Class of 2022.  Her remains will be placed with HG’s in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. As an only child, Mary collected her “siblings”, thru life-long friends; also friends thru her girls’ activities, numerous volunteer events, her bowling teams, & the Moose Lodge, where she served as President of the Women’s group.  She was baptized at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church & raised her family at First Baptist Church. Mom outlived many of her friends including her dear friend & Cajun, Barbara Foshee Davies.  Together with 7 girls between them, there was never a dull moment.  Fond memories include dancing & music in the house, getting cars stuck in the woods, trips to Crystal Lake & Gum Springs, & learning all things Cajun.  Other very special friendships were with Evelyn Miller, Fern Perot, [& their families], & next door neighbor Bessie Brossette, who was like a Mom to her. Mary was the consummate hostess, with many of Johnny & her girls’ friends & Sigma Kappa Sorority sisters enjoying her good food & hospitality.  They also enjoyed fishing, boating, & water skiing from their home on Cane River & other fun times at their Blanchard Road home.  As a stay-at-home Mom, Mary served many times as Home Room Mom, assisted in PTA duties, & many fundraisers at their schools, Church, or the Moose Lodge.  She rarely missed Johnny & the girls’ ball games & Cecile’s cheerleading activities.  Oftentimes she was one of the drivers to take groups of kids on Church or school trips & aptly earned the nickname “Roadrunner”, which she continued to fulfill long after we were grown. Mom loved having a pretty yard & passed that love to Johnny & the girls.  Bowling, especially in National Tournaments, was a favorite for her.  After she & HG joined the Moose Lodge, they were very involved & loved their dances.  She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles & spent many hours with family working them.   The highlight of 1972 was when Sue Kennedy came into our lives.  She & “Mrs. H” formed a lifelong bond. She loved to travel, whether she & HG were making fun for the kids in Florida, 6 Flags, the Ozark Mountains, Disney World after visiting Sherrie in Naples, FL, traveling without the girls to see Johnny in Norfolk, after he finished basic Navy training or with Dot to Colorado to see Pat.  Her travels also included cruising Alaska & thru the Panama Canal, both with Nanette & several trips to Hawaii with Nanette & several other family members.  After leaving Natchitoches, Mary & HG traveled between the girls, enjoying the activities of the Grands, including all their games.  They had many fun stops along the way; highlights were Branson, Graceland, & several National Halls of Fame.  In spending quite some time at Camille’s in PA, they loved going to the nearby LPGA tournaments, Opryland, & Nags Head, NC; exploring her area including Niagara Falls, Canada, NY City, Falling Water Museum & Hershey, PA, Presidential homes & libraries, historical sites like Gettysburg; & enjoying the fresh Amish veggies, especially the corn.  Mom & Camille attended many Westminster College Celebrity Series concerts, including one where they met Amy Grant.  At the age of 89, Mary was awarded the “Oldest Trail Walker” for the Temple Parks Walking Challenge for walking all 15 of the 6 miles of concrete trails.   Mom’s friends described her as magic, a true angel from heaven and a gift in their life.  She had many sayings, our favorites were “you make sure I can see the top of your head if you go down that hill [from the back yard]” & “you better be home before the street lights come on”.  Mom taught us many life-long lessons, especially to be kind & as Jesus said “…love thy neighbor as thyself”.  Thank you Lord for our precious Mom.  She will be missed. Special thanks to Central Texas Visiting Angels & Hospice Compassus.  In memory of Mary, donations may be made to NSU Demons Unlimited Foundation, 468 Caspari Dr, Natchitoches, 71497, for the Nanette Hawthorne Athletic Scholarship for Women or Westminster College, Celebrity Series, New Wilmington, PA  16172, or call 724-946-7371.