Mary Edna Crocker

“Swing low, Sweet chariot coming for to carry me home” playing in my head as I held my mother’s hand one last time. My mother, Mary Edna Crocker, was born in Hermann Hospital on May 10, 1945, with a hole in her heart. Though I believe that hole only made her love that much more. Love is the word I think of when I think of her. She loved everyone and found great joy in sharing her love and a helping hand, ear, or voice to those who needed it. She gave her time a resource some find hard to give. At the age of 13 she underwent her first open heart surgery to repair the hole in her heart. She married my father, Darrell Eugene Baumgartner, in 1965 and moved to Owatonna, MN, becoming the stepmother to Steven Darrell and Rick Eugene. Giving birth to my brother, Rodney James, and myself, Laura Elizabeth. Divorcing my father in 1986, she and I moved back to Houston, TX, where she grew up. Along the way she gave of herself to her

churches. Her love of reading led to a career as a librarian starting at the Owatonna Public Library and ending with Houston Public Library.  After retiring, she moved to her little yellow house by the bay in Palacios.

Mary Edna Crocker passed quietly away on September 25, 2023, at Memorial Hermann Hospital completing the circle of her life. She leaves behind her children, grandchildren, and a few great grandchildren, along with nieces and nephews. Not to mention all those she called her friends. ...

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Graham Crocker, and Lucille Kate Hensarling Crocker, siblings, Charles William Crocker, James Byrd Crocker, and Margaret Lucille Crocker Ford.

A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held October 28, 10:00am, First Presbyterian Church, Palacios. Whether you can make it or not please wear something red in her memory, which was her favorite color. 

In lieu of flowers please give a memorial donation to:

First Presbyterian Church, Palacios, TX https://palaciospresbyterian.org

Associated Church, Owatonna, MN https://www.associatedchurch.org

Heifer International https://www.heifer.org