Mary Lee Hammond

Mary Lee Hammond, a forty two year resident of Midland, Texas died in Houston on April 25, 2015. Services will be entrusted to Ellis Funeral home. Visitation will be Sunday, May 10, 2015, from 4:00pm- 6:00pm at Ellis Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, May 11, 2015 at Resthaven Memorial Park.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ralph E. Hammond, her parents, Herbert Eugene and Evelyn Lee of Canton, Mississippi and her brother Joe Wayne (Jack) Lee of Biloxi, Mississippi.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda Clark and husband Peter of Stillwater, Oklahoma and Debbie Bartelsmeyer and husband Mark of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, John M. Clark and wife Kelly of Leawood, Kansas and Julie Clark Thomas and husband Roger of Tulsa, Oklahoma; six great grandchildren; Ashley, Ryan, Jeremy and Ellison Clark and Hannah and Kimbor Thomas.

Mary grew up in Canton, Mississippi and graduated from Canton High School. She attended The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, after which she worked at the air base in Jackson, Mississippi during WWII. Later she worked for Kingwood Oil Company in Effingham, Illinois where she met her future husband. After her marriage she followed her husband in his oil business career from Effingham, Altamont, and Mattoon, Illinois to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Houston, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and finally to Midland, Texas.

Mary was a loving and supportive wife and mother. She was active in various charity works throughout her life and was particularly proud of her involvement in raising money for a new hospital in Mattoon and organizing the original kickoff of the United Way there. She always loved bridge and while in Midland she became active in duplicate bridge and earned her Silver Life Master. She helped raise funding for the completion and furnishing of the Allison Bridge Center. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Petroleum Club of Midland. She has been a long time supporter of Midland College and a great believer in the importance of having higher education available locally to benefit the community.

Mary loved life and enjoyed her family, friends, and social activities. She and her husband had many trips all over the USA and the world, and she loved seeing other places and learning about their culture, but she always was glad to come home and grateful to be an American.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Midland College Foundation, 3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705-6399; the Allison Bridge Center, 913 W. Wadley Ave, Midland, TX 79705 or First United Methodist Church, 300 N. Main, Midland, TX 79701.