Lou Swain Sabo

Mary Elizabeth (Lou) Swain Sabo was born on October 9, 1933, in Dallas. Her parents had hoped to call her Mary Elizabeth, but it was shortened to Mary Lou. Soon her brother Jack, who loved to nickname people, started calling her Little Lou Lou, which fit her personality perfectly. Spunky and athletic, she was the quickest little basketball player on their block.

Lou died on July 2, 2023 of natural causes following a few years of declining health. When she crossed over, she was welcomed by her mother and father, Mary and Jack Swain, her brother, Jack Jr., and husband, Wayne Sabo.

Lou lived most of her life in the two-mile radius of her first home on Edmondson Avenue in Highland Park, and, full circle, her final breath was also taken at her last home, also on Edmondson Avenue. Her life had deep roots and connections to friends and family. Many of her friendships dated back more than 80 years.

She attended Bradfield Elementary and Highland Park High School. For college, she took the train to Virginia to attend Sweet Briar, but quickly returned to Texas, ultimately graduating from the University of Texas where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma.

After graduating, Lou worked for an investment brokerage house in the Republic National Bank Building. She quickly learned about investing, which became a lifelong passion. She was quite good at it. Even in her final days, she knew the price of Pepsi. She also had advice for young people starting out—always be the first to arrive at the office, just in time to make the first pot of coffee. Everyone will love the coffee and assume that you’ve been there a lot longer. Then they won’t notice if you leave early!

Lou met her husband Wayne Sabo on a date set up by her best friends Kathryn and Bob Greeves. It was a match made in heaven of two Libras who perfectly balanced each other. They were married 41 years and had two children, Beth and Lyle.

Devoted to her children and grandchildren, Lou was always there for them whether it was carpooling, making tuna fish sandwiches, or going on fun trips. Throughout her life she was a joiner and a volunteer. She was an active member of the Junior League of Dallas, the Altar Guild of Saint Michael & All Angels Church, the Dallas Woman’s Club, the Garden Club, the Dallas Country Club, and president of the Dallas Shakespeare Club, a legacy dating back to her mother that she proudly shared with her daughter.

Lou is survived by children, Beth Sabo Huddleston (Mark Housewright) and Lyle Sabo; grandchildren, Audrey Huddleston (Damian Bertrand), Riker Huddleston (Taylor), and Rex Huddleston (Savannah) and great-grandchildren, Alice and Wyatt; sister in-law, Beverly Swain; nephew, Jack Swain III, and nieces, Cathy Lucas (John), Ann Swain (Stacy Kelly), and Carol Swain and grand-nephew Whit Moses.

Thank you to her amazing caregivers Seleatha Baldwin, Judy Jemerson and Lavern Shropshire, nurse Laura Stark and hospice nurse Lee Poole, Belen Linton who made sure that she was very well fed for the past five years and all of her lifelong friends who kept her in their hearts.

Her funeral service will be in the chapel of Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church on Tuesday, July 11th at 3:30 p.m. followed by reception celebrating her life in the church Parlor.

In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts to the Sallie Dickson Memorial Fund of the Dallas Shakespeare Club at Communities Foundation of Texas or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Sabo family.