Mary Edna Sulser

Mary Edna Sulser, 96, of Tyler, Texas passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025 at Hospice of East Texas Homeplace in Tyler. 

Mary was born in Tyler, Texas to Shirley Gray and Ava Jones Brown on September 16, 1929. 

Mary attended Murph and Bascom schools and became a licensed beautician in the 1940s. She married the love of her life, Lee Roy Sulser, on June 5, 1948. Together, Mary and Lee Roy worked side-by-side for 32 years as owners of Lee Roy’s Service Station in Tyler. They were married for 53 years until Lee Roy’s passing in 2001. Mary was a member of Sharon Baptist Church. 

There will never be another like Mary Sulser. The epitome of her generation, Mary was fiercely independent, tenacious, and had a distinctly feisty, “can-do” spirit. Known as “Nanna” to her loved ones, she was happiest cooking for her family and friends in her kitchen. Nanna loved to try new recipes, and her family loved to be the taste-testers! Her family loved her deeply and will miss her terribly but rejoice that she is now reunited with her beloved Lee Roy. 

Those who will cherish Mary’s memory include sons and daughters-in-law: Roy and Nan Sulser and Dick and Jeanine Sulser; grandchildren: Kimberly Sulser, Chris Sulser, Lauran and David Byrd, Jessie Aguilar and Juan Lomas; great-grandchildren: Carson Byrd and Elena Lomas, all of Tyler; as well as many friends who brightened Mary’s day with a visit, phone call, or card. 

Private burial at Tyler Memorial will take place under the direction of Jackson’s Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home. 

The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Louis and Peaches Owens Heart Hospital and  Hospice of East Texas Homeplace for their compassion and for their outstanding care of Mary in her final days. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of East Texas in Tyler in her memory.