Mary Ann Bryan

Mary Ann McAllister was born on August 15, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri. The eldest of four, she loved her mother and siblings, Diane, Steve, and Barbara and remained close to them and their families. She was a very young bride, marrying John Foster at the age of 17 and giving birth to three children (Michelle, Johnny, and Angela), each a year apart, by the age of 20. She and her young family enjoyed many adventures. She helped launch a vacation Bible school ministry for inner city children and helped women who were homeless get settled with needed support in Houston, served people of the Miskito tribe in the jungles of Honduras, was part of a commune in Missouri, lived on a working farm complete with chickens, horses, pigs and a large vegetable garden, delivered a baby, and was a seamstress with her own boutique; all during her 20's.
In her 30's she became a retinal angiographer and ultimately the office manager for renowned ophthalmic surgeons in the Houston medical center, remarried, ran a professional placement business with her husband and step-parented five children. In her 40's she bought a knit shop with her mother in the Houston Galleria area, learned to knit and taught others, took up motorcycling, helped raise her grandchildren, lost her daughter, Angela, and bred Dachshund puppies with the help of her grandchildren. In her 50's she had her own home remodeling business in Tomball and then set out to be the fun grandma, remodeling her grandchildrens' rooms, planning camps, scavenger hunts and other fun activities, teaching them to cook, sew, do archery, make crafts, paint, wallpaper, repair anything and everything, and even how to run a business. After retiring in her 60's, she remarried and was then widowed, tried new things like line dancing and water aerobics, went on cruises and traveled with her friends and family, hosted and attended lots of parties and played Bridge every chance she could. She enjoyed teaching sewing, knitting, crocheting and (most especially) Bridge, during which she achieved Sectional Master level status with the American Contract Bridge League.
Mary Ann was a volunteer from a very young age serving, and often taking in, those affected by drugs, alcohol, poverty, abuse, homelessness or mental illness. Her most recent ministry was facilitating a Bridges to Life program for women with drug related offenses at the Santa Maria Hostel. She has made many dear friends over the years from every walk of life. She has been a stand-in friend, mother, grandmother, teacher or caregiver for various people God placed in her life when they needed her most. As a widow, she not only opened her home to others but frequently asked people to come to church with her. Many have developed or re-engaged their faith as a result. She considered herself a prayer warrior and wasn't afraid to challenge systems she considered wrong, oppressive, or counter to her beliefs.
Mary Ann is preceded by her mother, Dorothy Taft, her daughter, Angela Defoor, her brother, Steven McAllister, her husband, Guy Bryan, her nephew, Scot Johnson, a grandson Levi who died at birth, and many other dear friends and family members.
She is survived by two sisters, two children and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many others who called her Mom, Grandma, Sister, or Aunt Mary.
If she could leave those she loved with a song, it would be "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Anne Womack.
A Memorial Service is planned and open to all friends and family at 3 pm on August 15, 2022 (which is also her birthday) at Redeemer Church, 730 Baker Dr, Tomball, Texas 77375.
A small cemetary service will be held for close family on Monday, August 15, 2022 from 11:15 AM to 11:45 AM at the Houston National Cemetery family pavilion, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Bryan family.