Mary Clare Wilsford

Mary Clare Pye Wilsford went to heaven on March 25th, 2021. Mary was born to Earl Watson Pye and Leone Ryan Pye on May 9, 1933 in Beaumont TX. She attended St. Anne’s Church and graduated from St. Anthony’s Catholic High School. She trained and worked as an X-ray tech at Hotel Dieu Hospital and later worked at Warren Electric Company. One day, at Village Creek, she met the love of her life, Larry Dore Wilsford. They were married on November 19, 1955 and together they raised four children in Beaumont, TX.

Mary was very active as a volunteer through her life and loved to help people. Mary actively supported her husband Larry’s work in the Knights of Columbus and served in the Ladies Auxiliary. But Mary found her own passion in fighting for the rights of the unborn child during the 1960’s and 70’s. Mary and Larry became politically active for this cause and worked tirelessly during the forefront of this movement to help establish the Texas Chapter for the Right to Life. Together they served as the President and Vice President for the Right to Life chapter. She was also heavily involved in the early days of Birthright in Beaumont. Her passion for the unborn, saved many lives. Growing up, it was not unusual for one of us to answer the phone and a young woman asked to speak to “Barbara”. We all knew this was code for Mom to take the call and that someone needed help and was possibly in crisis. She frequently counseled, provided free testing and found resources for young women in our home. This was normal for our household. Many years later, around 2010, her daughter came by for a visit. Mom told her that the night before, she had been invited to a dinner. She said after she got there, she was shocked to learn that she was invited there to be recognized for the work she and Dad had done back in the 60’s and 70’s in Texas.

In 1985, Mom and Dad moved to Lakeway near Austin after Dad retired from DuPont. They bought a pontoon boat and enjoyed sunsets on the lake. Mom never planned to lose Dad at that point in her life, but less than a year after they moved there to retire, Dad died suddenly and Mom was left alone. Mom stayed in the home they built there for ten years, enjoying family nearby and sharing her boat and those wonderful sunsets!!! In 1995, she relocated back to her home town of Beaumont. She wasted no time getting back into the volunteer life. She also returned to singing in the choir at St. Anne’s as she worked with Some Other Place, CASA and Ben’s Kids as a social worker and mentor. Mom was also an extraordinary minister, bringing communion to those who could not attend church. She loved the

work. When she was not volunteering, she enjoyed visits to her family and grandchildren. Visits were hallmarked by Mom “educating” the kids about something. The education always included bags of candy, nuts, ice cream, hamburgers and French fries!

She was proud of her Texas heritage (a sixth generation Texan) and spent time in later years researching and traveling around to interview various people who had knowledge while they still lived. She was particularly fascinated by an uncle who is named on the San Jacinto Monument, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Millard. Millard founded Beaumont and one year later led and fought victoriously at the battle of San Jacinto.

Mom was a fantastic listener. She always had time to listen to your story and was truly interested and cared. No matter what the problem was, she would listen. Her listening support always got around to her faith that prayer and God would help more than anything else. In later years, she seemed to pray more. She made you feel important and that she believed in your ability to do well at whatever endeavor or challenge you were facing.

Her inspirational support came from her deep faith in God. We have heard from so many over the last few days that “she was my Mom too!”.

When we were growing up, we lived on a street that ended in a cul-de-sac. Our home was at the dead end. This was the hub for all things in our neighborhood. Meet ups, Ball games, chase, hide and seek, neighborhood parties or the annual Christmas tree Wars that ensued after the tree forts we built wore out. During the play-yard years, it was not unusual when there was a dispute among the kids on our street, for 5-6 kids to end up in mothers presence presenting their saga. She would patiently listen to each kids story and then issue the verdict as if she were holding court. And all the kids would trail out the door content to have been listened to. She instilled in her children and in others a sense that they could do anything they set out to do.

She had a strong and lifelong devotion to Mary the Mother of Jesus. She loved the rosary and her faith was strong. She had a passion for truth and justice. (I often times think that she should have been a detective.)

Mom also loved the Beach. It was her happy place. She felt especially connected to the Bolivar Peninsula where first her Grandmother, then her father had homes. In the late 60’s, Mom and Dad got a small cabin for all of

us to enjoy. It was a one room cabin, with no insulation, a single bathroom shower, and initially no AC. We loved it! We spent many hours around the table with friends and family playing cards and dominoes. Everyone was welcome there and everyone came! We warmed it with the oven and space heaters and slept in the summer with all the windows open. Many years later, she went back to the beach and owned her dream, a beach front home. Mom would sit for hours on the front porch admiring the wildlife and the ocean and often would stay there for weeks on end.

Mom lived the last 3 and a half years of her life at Larry’s Lakehouse (named in honor of her husband) in Katy. Not surprisingly, Mom acted as a chaplain at meals, offering prayers for concerns and grace before meals.

She leaves her dear friends there, Ruth, Shirley, Dee, Yvonne, Goldie and Lola. She also leaves behind the Wonderful Women (Tracey, Mary, Dee and all) who lovingly cared for her there and for whom our family is so grateful.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her parents, Earl and Leone, her brothers Jack and Watt. She is survived by four children, Mary Clare (Mrs. David) Monk, Larry Jr., Sharon (Mrs. Andy) Sembera and Julie (Mrs. Mike) Mullally, her seven Grandchildren: Thomas (Lauren) Windham, Travis Windham, Amanda Palmer Cejka, Meredith Windham (Mrs. Matt) Morris, Melissa (Mrs. Taylor) Neill, Andrew Sembera and Claire Sembera and eight Great Grandchildren: Aleigha Raymer, Austin and Bailey Cejka, Nora, Nathan and Rose Neill, Thomas and Ruby Windham and Levi Morris.

Services will be at Katy Funeral Home on Kingsland. A Rosary will be held at 3 pm with a memorial and visitation to follow from 4-6 pm. Funeral Mass will be on Monday in Austin, TX at St.Ignatius Catholic Church, 126 W. Oltorf. Graveside services will be at Assumption Cemetery. Donations to Texas Right to Life of Southeast Texas may be made in lieu of flowers.