Mary Berthelot Quoyeser

August 14, 1935 – October 21, 2025

Extraverted and energetic, Cay and her beloved husband of 61+ years, Pete, (who passed away at 93 in August of 2023) loved nothing more than being surrounded by friends and family at social gatherings.

Born in Victoria, Texas, during her early years, Cay’s family moved frequently, following her father’s itinerant job with the Gulf Oil Company to small towns throughout South Texas. Cay changed schools over a dozen times during her elementary school days, and every time the family stayed at a motel in a new town while awaiting permanent housing, Cay would ‘go missing’ only to be later found introducing herself to folks in the motel’s lobby. This delightful disposition followed Cay to the University of Texas and to the Alpha Phi Sorority where she made lifelong friends and became a respected leader, just as she would in dozens of social and civic organizations throughout her long life.

After her graduation from the University of Texas in 1957, Cay worked for the Humble Oil Company in Houston. In 1959 Cay was treated to a “grand tour” of Europe by her beloved Aunt Dody, after Cay’s parents discouraged her from accepting a job offer working on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. It was shortly after her return from Europe that Cay met Pete at a bridge party in Houston. Cay and Pete married on Thanksgiving Day 1961, and by early 1965, they had lived in three different cities and had one child to go along with each city where they lived. Joe came first in Corpus Christi; Mary followed fifteen months later in Houston; and Catherine arrived thirteen months after Mary in New Orleans. During eight years in New Orleans, Cay raised her children, made lifelong friends and honed her remarkable culinary skills for her famed dinner parties.

Following Pete’s transfer to Chicago in 1972, Cay reluctantly embraced winter coats and galoshes and learned to drive in the snow. In no time, Cay charmed the North Shore of Chicago with her lilting Southern accent while maintaining a famously tight ship on the home front. Later, Cay worked as an assistant to a professor of education at Northwestern University where her exceptional organizational skills became legendary throughout the department. When she wasn’t working, Cay led family outings to Chicago’s famed museums and other cultural attractions. She even made sure her three children knew how to get to Wrigley Field on the bus … by themselves. Cay made so many wonderful friends in Chicago that she sobbed upon learning that the family was once again transferred, this time, back to Houston.

As the 1980s approached and with three children set to enter college at once, Cay secured her real estate license to help pay for college tuition. Cay actively sold real estate in Houston for more than a decade, and, as a result, Joe (Rice), Mary (Emory) and Catherine (LSU), were able to graduate from college without debt. Cay also became a docent at Bayou Bend as well as a certified “Storyteller;” and in those capacities, she spent many happy hours talking to people about interesting things.

Upon retirement, Cay and Pete moved to New Braunfels where they built a lovely home thoughtfully designed for entertainment. Cay once again quickly established a wide circle of friends and engaged in meaningful volunteer work. During summers, Cay hosted what she playfully coined “Camp Runamuck” for visiting grandchildren and the annual pilgrimage of the beloved “Ladies of June”.

Finally, after twenty happy years in New Braunfels, Cay and Pete moved back to the home of their Alma Mater: Austin, Texas, where they spent the last decade with family, old friends, and new acquaintances. After Pete’s death, Cay continued living at the Village at the Triangle and spent her last weeks zipping around on an electric wheelchair so she could chat with as many people as possible before calling it a day. On October 21st, Cay peacefully drifted off to sleep for the last time. Her last conversations were filled with expressions of gratitude for a life filled with cherished friendships, a family she loved dearly, and for her unshakable faith in a loving God.

Cay is survived by son Joe Quoyeser (Marianne) and grandsons Alex (Caroline) and Oliver Quoyeser; daughter Mary Dickerson (Charles) and granddaughters Ellena and Mary Catherine Dickerson; daughter Catherine Morse (Kevin) and grandson Mitch Morse (Caitlin) and great grandchildren Kennedy and Deacon Morse; and grandson Robbie Morse.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 29th at 6:00 followed by a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Weed Corely Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Dr., Austin X 78731. The funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 30th at 3:30 at St. Louis King of France Catholic Church, 7601 Burnet Rd., Austin TX 78757. Interment will be on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery One, New Braunfels TX 78130.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by to check to Society of St. Vince de Paul and mailed to St. Louis Catholic Church, Attn: Jeff Bruns, Treasurer 7601 Burnet Rd., Austin TX 78757 or to the charity of your choice.