Mary Isabell Lunney La Fontaine

Mary La Fontaine Obituary

LA FONTAINE, Mary Mary Isabell Lunney La Fontaine was born in Dallas and spent her childhood there, as well as in Wichita Falls and, eventually, El Paso, where she attended Irvin High School and accepted a scholarship to attend Texas Western College (now UTEP). There Mary met Ray La Fontaine at an English department party in the summer of '64, and the stunning and brilliant beauty married the dashing professor six months later. The two of them, a perfect match in humor, brains and countenance, were side-by-side until Ray's death nearly 40 years later on July 1, 2004. Together, Mary and Ray produced documentaries, including Murray and Arlene for PBS, which won the Barbara Jordan Award in 1984, and many news segments for Paramount and Fox. Also together, they wrote a book on the Kennedy assassination, Oswald Talked, which has been hailed by many in the U.S. and abroad as the best-researched and most-definitive work produced on the subject. Mary and Ray also wrote investigative pieces for the Houston Post and for the Washington Post, including a passage from their book which was one of the longest excerpts ever produced in that august publication. Artistic endeavors are not Mary's only legacy, however; she and Ray also had two daughters, Charlotte (Charlie) La Fontaine, and Eugenia La Fontaine Krieg, as well as two grandchildren, Isabell and Maximilian Krieg, whom Mary spoiled and adored. Their beloved Charlie died in 2009. On June 29, 2015, at 7:45 in the evening, Mary died peacefully with Eugenia at her side, and, we believe, she is together again with Ray and Charlie. Mary was preceded in death also by her beloved mother, Charlotte Maudine Lunney née Kirby and her father James E. Lunney. In addition to Eugenia, Izzy, Max, and her son-in-law, Richard Krieg, Mary is survived by her brothers, Patrick K. Lunney and James E. Lunney III, as well as her sister Deborah Williams. A memorial service for Mary will be held on Friday July 10, 2015, at 11:00a.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 6306 Kenwood Ave., Dallas, 75214.

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Published by Dallas Morning News on Jul. 6, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary La Fontaine

8 Entries

Paul Thomas

August 30, 2015

Dear Eugenia and family,
I just found out today about Mary and am so sorry for your loss. Mary was an amazing human being as was Ray. I was shocked actually as I was preparing to write her and thank her again for the kindness she showed my mother, Marianne Sullivan (author of Kennedy Ripples) during the printing of Oswald Talked. Ray and Mary added a chapter all about my mothers book and it was a true joy for my mom to know such good, honest, brilliant people and know that they took a genuine interest in her story. My mother passed away in 2009 and her loss left a gaping hole in our lives...same as Mary in yours. We all had the deepest respect for both Ray and Mary and it's just beautiful to know they are somewhere together now. And perhaps now they finally know the real truth about the JFK assassination. They were remarkable human beings and they will be missed by many. Much love to all of you at this time and always.

Jennifer Jinks Yates

July 16, 2015

If there are any family members willing to talk to me, please let me know. I searched for Charlotte for so many years not knowing she passed. She was a childhood friend of mine.

Jennifer Jinks Yates

July 13, 2015

In the mid 70's our families were next door neighbors in Auburn Alabama. Charlotte was my best friend until they moved back to Tx. In the late 90's Mary found me and called me. I am saddened I couldn't find Charlotte sooner.

Sandra Fiel

July 9, 2015

She seemed to be a conduit of energy, intelligence, and righteous anger for the underdog. She has left her mark on our world and on our hearts. I was lucky to call her friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

virginia transue

July 8, 2015

Mary LaFontaine will remain, for me, as she was in the early 70's, as will Ray. We were friends, within a merry larger band of comrades, a riotous gang of smart and eager youths, a crowd acutely interested in the world around us, in the life of the mind, in good writing, in revelry, and in some of the more creative forms of human folly. Mary and Ray were central to the richness of that time, and we will not see the like of either of them again.

Those years remain very vivid, and bring to mind Shallow and Falstaff recalling antics some 50 years in the past: Shallow says to his cousin Silence, "...that thou hadst seen that this knight and I have seen...", and Falstaff adds "We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow."

Eugenia, I smile at remembering your birth, at your father saying, when you spit up (age maybe 6 weeks ) "she spills", and some months later as you were straining to sit up, your mother saying "she hates being a baby", and much more. Your mother's departure from this world leaves an enormous hole, as did your father's. I am thinking about you, with much love.

Douglas Prude

July 6, 2015

My deepest condolences regarding your loss.

Maggie Hunt

July 6, 2015

Eugenia and family,
So sorry for your loss. Best wishes to you in this sad time.
Maggie Hunt

Jim Barber

July 6, 2015

Nancy and I send our deepest sympathy. Mary and I were good friends, and I will always remember her incisive intellect and dry wit. She was a superb writer and scholar, and will be missed.

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