Mary Lynn Chaplin

January 5, 1944 to January 2, 2011

My Mary Lynn died on January 2nd at the age of 66, just 3 days short of her 67th birthday. Not really “my” Mary Lynn, really our Mary Lynn. Her family meant more to her than anything else. She treasured her boys Jon (Hauck, wife Dee and their children Jacob, Hailee and Carter), Jason (Hauck, wife Melissa and their children Jonathan and Lexi) and Tiffany (Chaplin). She never lost an opportunity to be with them or to help when needed. She was “supermom” and the consummate “Grams”. She was Cheerleader, supporter, counselor, confidante, “taxi driver”, coach, partner, teammate and caregiver. Birthdays and Christmas were special for Mary Lynn, being opportunities to give presents. She prepared for Christmas year around and it was her favorite time of the year. And it’s well known that Mary Lynn’s open arms extended to our kid’s friends. The house and the refrigerator were always open!

A native Houstonian whose marvelous parents (Ernest Stringfellow and Janie Donaldson Stringfellow) established a legacy of their own, Mary Lynn and her sisters (Susan Eddins, a resident of Fort Worth and Lisa Stringfellow of Houston) attended Bellaire High School. It was during those years that Mary Lynn’s beautiful voice began to ring out. She then majored in music during her two years at the University of Houston. She sang with range and clarity, a distinguishing talent retained for many years. I will always remember standing beside her on Christmas Eve at the Bear Creek UMC service when she sang the Hallelujah Chorus along with the Choir. It gave me chills as would her renditions of many songs during our life together. The three sisters singing the family prayer always made me cry. Oh, I am Jimmy or Jim if you please. Mary Lynn was married to Jack Hauck for a portion of the ‘70s and, after I came on the scene, I was even “Mr. Hauck” for years to many of the boys’ friends. Didn’t matter. It just evolved into” Jimmy” over time. But really, it wasn’t “Jim” or “Jimmy”, it was “JimmyandMaryLynn” or if you prefer, MaryLynnandJimmy”. One word. We were meant to be together. We married in 1982. Tiffany joined us in 1987 and a most amazing thing happened. Jon and Jason and Tiffany bonded and became brothers and sister, referring to and treating each other in just that manner. Mary Lynn’s patience and love provided the cement that has endured to this day.

There are so many stories to tell. Overnights with the kids and their friends at our home, fireworks on the corner on the 4th and New Years Eve; Christmases and holiday dinners at the Stringfellow home in Meyerland, “bonding” fires in the old smokey in our back yard, water balloons off the roof, a “borrowed” van, confiscated keys if there was alcohol; soccer games in the front yard and innumerable games attended at many venues throughout the city, lots of choir practices, performances and competitions and on and on. All with Mary Lynn smiling, encouraging and giving hugs every step of the way.

And then came the grand kids. Now numbering 5 and it being very apparent that Jon and Jason are wonderful Daddies. Dee’s son Jacob effectively became the first when Jon and Dee were married in 2000. Mary Lynn immediately embraced him as her own at every opportunity. Hailee was born on my birthday in 2001 and was the first to spend nights at our house. As Hailee began to talk, I can still hear those calls from the crib when she awoke in the morning; "Graams….Graaams…. Graaaaams," until Mary Lynn went in with, “Good morning, sunshine!” It was then the same with Carter and Jonathan. Lexi was always a delight, but her vocals hadn’t developed yet. I loved watching Mary Lynn with her grand babies…it was exhilarating. I think they knew they were loved and cherished at Grams’ house. And Mary Lynn never forgot a birthday or missed seeing Halloween costumes.

Our home was purchased by Jack and Mary Lynn in 1974. Mary Lynn and I were married in this home and thus spent our entire 28 years in Bear Creek. Lots of friends have moved away. Special relationships endured with the Ealings, the Yarbroughs and the Emerys with those families deeply embedded in our hearts and lives. We, too, considered moving from time to time but each consideration was quickly negated by Mary Lynn’s absolute requirement that we not be far away from our kids and grand kids.

Stone and Webster/Shaw Group was Mary Lynn’s work home for the last 22 years. She held many positions over the years and ended up as the Administrative Services Manager, North America. Among the 45 or so “admins” reporting to her, many became friends and all were treated with the combination of professionalism and compassion that so defined Mary Lynn. In turn, it is impossible to express enough gratitude to Mary Lynn’s co workers and the Shaw Group for the way they treated her during her illness. Flexible work hours, authorization to work from home, donated vacation…incredible. Thank you. And a special thanks to Laurie Wright-Listi for the immeasurable extra effort over the last two and a half years that effectively preserved Mary Lynn’s job.

When Mary Lynn was first diagnosed with leukemia in mid 2008, she acknowledged the report and asked simply, “What’s next?” Informed of the treatment to give her the best chance of recovery and knowing the dire nature of leukemia, she said without hesitation, “Bring it on!” And so it went. No sugar coating. Tell her the truth. Tell it now. Then the best decision could follow. And that was Mary Lynn: Tell the truth and don’t mess with anyone in her family. Violation of either of those incurred a wrath that would end in truth and fair treatment. Always.

The summary is simple:

Mary Lynn’s love will be known and felt for years to come. Her love and concern for Jon and Dee and Jason and Melissa and Tiffany and Mike and Jacob and Hailee and Carter and Jonathan and Lexi knew no bounds. I know I fall into that category as well and say to Mary Lynn with some awe, “Our family is amazing. Your unflappable “family first” approach has created a monument consisting of wonderful values and a continued family orientation that will extend for generations. And actually has already been in place for generations, beginning in East Texas and Oklahoma. You were the consummate steward of those beginnings while always fortifying the strength of our family. I hope somehow we can honor your wishes and know your approaches as they would have been. I will do my best.”

Her influence and manner will be emulated by many

Her fanaticism for family and loyalty are bequeathed and honored

I will live every day with her love and spirit and philosophy and tone guiding my way. I suspect I speak for many in saying that our time together wasn’t long enough, but I am so grateful for the time we had.

Travel well, my love.