Mary Lou Mitchell

Shortly after graduating from high school, Mary Lou moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. A few years later, her work in the airline industry moved her to Dallas, Texas. She met and married her husband of nearly 50 years, Billy Joe Mitchell, both of whom worked for Braniff Airlines. Mary Lou and Bill settled in Mesquite to raise their two children, John and Mary Jo. Following the airline industry, Mary Lou had a long career in textiles. Later in life, Mary Lou and Bill loved spending time doting on their beloved grandchildren, antique shopping and eating Tex-Mex. Mary Lou enjoyed watching Texas Rangers baseball, Dallas Stars hockey, and her grandchildren's college football teams, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. She never met a crossword she couldn't finish. She held firm in the belief that we're all God's children, including the many animals, both domestic and wild, that she fed each day, More than anything though, her family was everything in her world.

Christmas packages were always beautifully wrapped with handmade bows. Homemade pumpkin pie or from scratch German chocolate cake were annual birthday items. Her children and grandchildren, each believing they were her favorite, all saw her as the ultimate confidante. Gran, as she was affectionately known, was always there with a listening ear and sage advice. The key to her success is that everyone she loved felt like the most important person to her. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said it best "love does not dominate; it cultivates". Gran has cultivated love for generations to come.

Mary Lou was proceeded in death by her husband, Bill, her father, Ferdinand, her mother, Pauline, and her beloved aunt, Helen Markley. She is survived by her son, John (Stephanie) Mitchell of Conroe, and daughter, Mary Jo (Steve) Meisinger of Fort Worth, grandchildren, Caytie (Shane) Langford of Dallas, Caroline (Marshall) Vaughn of Perrin, Jack Mitchell of DFW, James Sarandis of Dallas, her step grandchildren Mitchell, Allison, and Lauren Meisinger of Fort Worth, her great-granddaughter, Evelyn Jean Vaughn, her brother James (Pam) Dabbelt of Amelia, Ohio, several cousins, and nieces.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you to make a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation or The Michael J. Fox Foundation. A private graveside service will be held for the family.