Mary P. Wilson

Mary P. Wilson, surrounded by her family, went peacefully to be with Jesus on Friday, May 7. Mary Ruth Pape was born on Nov. 28, 1931, to Arthur Simon and Hattie Pearl Pape in Ballinger, Texas. Having grown up on a farm she pulled cotton by hand, milked cows, gathered eggs, carried water from Elm Creek in a bucket, thrashed blackberries in an umbrella with a stick, churned butter, and drove to town in a covered wagon. The family moved to town "San Angelo" and in 1950 she graduated from San Angelo Central High School where she shared her passion for singing in the Glee Club. On Nov. 22, 1951, she married her sweetheart, Samuel "Winston" Wilson. After 30 years working for GTE, her favorite position being an operator, she retired. She was a deacon and active member of Community Hills Christian Church, always singing in the choir, serving on the church board, and special committees, delivered food baskets, cooking food, and sharing her kind and loving gentle spirit. Mary was a devoted wife, loving mother, and loved by everyone that met her. Mary loved to spend time with her family where she leaves many precious memories of singing, picnics, fishing at Paradise Point, planting flowers, attending piano recitals, standing on the soccer field, sitting in the baseball stands, traveling to see drama performances, attending band concerts, working in the vegetable garden, canning squash, making special family dinners, playing Farkel, Spinner, horse, jigsaw puzzling, and sewing tons of bunny covers and keepsakes. She loved the family reunions in Buffalo Gap and Morgan's Mill. Mom took on many roles as she dabbled in predicting the weather, writing poetry, being the family historian, photographer, scorekeeper, and cheerleader always assuring us "it's going to be okay, God is in control." Mary is survived by her husband, Winston; daughter Diana Oldham, son Arthur Wilson and his wife Carla, and daughter Arietta Smith; grandchildren Brian Smith and his wife Kristi, Amber Miramontes, and her husband Oscar, Chrystal Pond and her husband Bryan, Adam Oldham, Taylor Oldham; and great-grandchildren Emerson Smith, Hudson Smith, Alyssa Miramontes, and Mallory Pond; sister-in laws, Patsy Crotwell and husband Wayne, Billie Dorough, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and her loving church family at Community Hills Christian Church. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 9, 2010, at Johnson's Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 10, 2010, at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens with the Reverend O'Neal Westbrook officiating. The family requests donations are made to Community Hills Christian Church. The family sends special thanks to Vista Care and Kay Mixon. Family and friends may sign an online register book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com.