Mary Hinojosa Garcia

Mary was born in Taft, Texas to George Hinojosa and Petra Rodriguez on September 12th, 1930. Mary proudly said, “I couldn’t have been a better person without my parents who raised me with dignity and respect and their strong devotion to God.” She was the youngest of her siblings, Ramon, Juan, George, Federico, Rosa, Jose, Espiridion, Epifanio, Lucia, Adela and Alfredo.

Mary left school at the age of 16 after her father died so that she could help pay the bills. She completed her education later in life. She and her mother sold many personal possessions, and Mary took various jobs including working at Kress Five and Dime store, a jewelry store, Blue Hernandez Shoe Repair, Kirk Drug Store and Fountain Shop, Lieberman Boutique, and Woolworth. Her true passion and natural talent surfaced as a florist at Jim Davis Flower Shop. She remained there until she was married.

Around the age of 20 she was a member of the Stardust Girls Club. They met monthly under the direction of Luz Rodriguez. They held raffles and dances, and every Christmas they collected toys for children in need.

In 1955, Mary eloped and married the love of her life, Alejandro R. Garcia. They celebrated 60 years of marriage. They raised their family in San Antonio, Texas. Mary worked for 15 years as a cafeteria server at Terrell Wells Middle School where she was favored by the students. She mothered each one with caring words, sneaking extra food on their trays and not hesitating to tell them to tuck in their shirts and get a haircut. After retirement, they moved to Sherman, Texas. They were inseparable and worshiped at St. Mary’s Catholic church.

Mary is survived by her three children, Trudy Ruiz (Arnie) of Sherman, Texas, Alex H. Garcia, Jr. (Elsa) of Houston, and Ruby McLellan (Neil) of Houston. She loved her 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was a devout Catholic and prayed the rosary daily. She asked the Blessed Mother to intercede for all the petitions she had.

Mary loved life. She had a big bright-eyed smile and a big laugh. She loved to dance and sing along, often stealing the microphone to take the lead. Mary showed us the power of prayer, the value of an education, and the importance of family and friends. She enjoyed big and small family gatherings. She had an incredible memory and could be the most entertaining storyteller of events stemming back to her childhood, with names and dates and specific details.

She loved watching all sports live and on TV. While living in Sherman, Mary and Alex were loyal Dallas Cowboy and Texas Ranger fans but never forgetting the San Antonio Spurs.

When Mary moved to Houston for medical treatment, she became an avid Astros fan. She knew the players by name and could tell you what they did and the final score. If her team lost, she could tell you whose fault it was.

Mary enjoyed her time at Morada Cy-Fair Assisted Living Facility in Houston. She was an active advocate for her fellow residents. She had many friends there and joined in many fun activities. Some of her favorites were Bingo, arts and crafts and having her nails done. She was an expert at making bows and centerpieces. She made beautiful jewelry and seasonal wreaths for her door and for other residents who needed help. She loved going on outings to restaurants and shops. She won Best Dressed at the 2024 Senior’s Prom and Prom Queen in 2025.

We would like to thank Mary’s Morada Cy-Fair Assisted Living family for the excellent care, compassion and support provided daily. Your staff went above and beyond to make life in Morada comfortable, safe, and enjoyable. Your staff excels in kindness. We are forever grateful.

To the Medical staff of Barnard Family Health, Texas Oncology, Texas Urology Specialists and the HCA Houston Healthcare, we would like to express our sincere thanks for your compassionate care of Mary Garcia. Your willingness to listen and provide Mary with your expertise and exceptional care did not go unnoticed.

Mary was the last of her generation. She would want the surviving generations to know how much she loved you and prayed tirelessly for each of you.