Mary "Miggie" Lena Wilkerson

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our family’s guiding light. On April 8th, 2025, Mary Lena McLain Wilkerson “Miggie” passed away at the age of 82. Mary was the granddaughter of Charlie and Lena Paschall and Louis and Mary Lloyd McLain. Her parents were Joe Lloyd and Ella Mae Paschall McLain, whom she loved dearly. Mary was the eldest of three girls and was born in Bryan, TX, on August 16th, 1942.

While this letter tells some of the story, it only scratches the surface of who Mary was. To tell the whole story—and for someone to get the full picture of how amazing she was—would rival War and Peace. Hopefully, this will at least give you a small glimpse of not only who she was but what she meant to so many.

Her early years were spent surrounded by both Joe and Ella Mae’s families and friends. Both had homesteads in nearby Madison County, Texas. She often told stories of spending time with her grandparents and great-grandparents: Joe’s parents Louis and Mary McLain, Ella Mae’s mother Lena and Charles Paschall, and the Vernon family. Lena’s parents, Jody and Kali, were also a big part of her youth. These stories told a true Americana life that was common in early 20th-century rural communities in Texas. We say Americana—however, both families were only a few generations removed from immigrating to America. Many of the old-country traditions were woven into a new way of life in Texas. Their family stories weren’t unlike many others from that era—families uprooting and moving from other parts of the country, or even across an ocean, to start a new life focusing on freedom, opportunity, and being independent. They were devoted to family and the idea of making their children’s future better than their own. Through hard work and sacrifice, they would accomplish just that. It was these values instilled in Mary at a young age that would shape the rest of her life.

Eventually, that quest for a brighter future brought Joe and Ella Mae to Houston, seeking more opportunities and to continue the quest for a better life for their family. They would settle in Pasadena. Joe would hire on with Sheffield Steel, which later became Armco Steel. This was the opportunity they had been looking for and brought stability to the family. It was here that Joe and Ella Mae would raise their three daughters into the wonderful women they would become.

Mary would graduate from Pasadena High School in 1960. A few years later, she would meet the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Haney Presly Wilkerson. It was the beginning of a love affair that would last for nearly six decades. Haney and Mary were married in April 1966.

Haney had a house he had built next to his parents, Walter and Mildred, on five acres off Almeda Genoa in Houston. While that property would eventually be swallowed up by the city, back then it could be described as the country. I imagine it was like going back to her grandparents’ homestead—only this time, she would be the one building the new life. A place to experience their own freedom and independence and to raise their family. Well, as free and independent as you can be while living next door to your in-laws and five miles from your mom and dad.

Within that home, they would raise three boys: Kirk, the oldest, then JoJohn, and lastly Karl. By this time, Haney was a member of the Houston Police Department. Often, she had to deal with her three sons herself. I mentioned that her family nickname was Miggie because of her short stature, but she was anything but short when it came to her boys. She knew when to be tough and when they needed a mother’s touch.

The most important thing to Mary was her family—those who came before her and those she helped bring into this world. There weren’t enough holidays to satisfy her urge to be with her family. There were constant random family get-togethers with the goal of just enjoying each other’s company. With that said, Christmas was her favorite time of year. Christmas was always the biggest event of the year—a time for generations, old and new, to gather and, well, just enjoy each other. That embodied Mary to a T.

Being outdoors and as close to a body of water as possible was always a must during the summer months. In the beginning, it was loading up whatever truck and/or car they had at the time—and there were a lot of different ones—and heading out camping. Eventually, they decided instead of dragging everything around the state, they should just buy property somewhere. They chose to buy property on Lake Livingston. It was a place for the entire family to get away from all the stress without causing more stress. It allowed them to make an already amazing life for their children that much better. Imagine being a young boy and having a place to go every weekend to fish, water ski, and ride motorcycles. It’s every boy’s dream, but once again through their sacrifices, it was their three sons’ reality.

Some may say this story is less about Mary and more about others in her life. They may be right—but there is a reason for that. For Mary, it was never about herself. What she cared most about was that the people she loved and cared about had what they needed—even if she had to give something up to provide it. She knew everything about everybody. We often wondered how she knew all those things about so many people, but it was simple really—she just listened, and she cared about what people had to say. She was the most caring person you would ever meet. The values instilled in her at a young age served her well, and she implemented them throughout her life. She learned what it meant to be selfless, compassionate, and to have a sense of not just family, but community.

It’s what made Mary, Mary. Through her personal sacrifices of time, hard work, and dedication, she was able to touch an unimaginable number of people in a positive way. Whether it was volunteering her time at the PTA, PBS of Houston, opening her home to anyone who needed a place to feel safe, being involved in the Texas Republican Party for over 50 years, or spending countless hours at the little league park to ensure not only her boys but others' sons and daughters had a place to compete and enjoy just being kids—she put everything she had into whatever she did for her family and her community. It is our hope that as many people as possible are reading this and saying to themselves, “I was one of the lucky ones to be touched by her immeasurable heart.” Through it all, Haney was always by her side. They had a love affair that lasted more than 58 years and will continue long past today. Throughout those 58 years, there were only a handful of days that ended with them being in different places.

The boys would move onto their own life journeys, equipped with the values instilled by their mother and father. The home on Almeda Genoa was sold. Haney and Mary permanently moved to the house on Lake Livingston. It was here that they could finally focus on each other. Finally, after so many sacrifices made, they could just enjoy being together.

For the next 29 years, they would spend every moment together in their favorite place on earth. For Mary, much of that 29 years was spent looking out the window of her home, enjoying the view of the lake, her beautiful garden, the wildlife both would attract, and of course, Haney piddling in the yard. Whether she was sitting in her swing drinking coffee with Haney or sitting at her desk organizing her lifelong work of her family ancestry, the beauty of the world was always just a windowpane away.

In many ways, it was our father who fueled the family and allowed us to always be moving forward, but make no mistake—it was always Mom who was steering us where we needed to go. Mary was a one-of-a-kind special woman who will be missed by everyone she touched in her 82 years. I imagine her in heaven today, with a smile on her face. To her, it must be the ultimate family reunion—one that will last for an eternity. Believe me, that would be heaven for our mom. Please remember to save us all a folding chair at the table and a bowl of Ella Mae’s banana pudding. We miss you already, and we will see you again soon.

Mary is lovingly survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, Haney Presly Wilkerson. She leaves behind their three sons and their families: Kirk and Kim Wilkerson, and their children Kris and Kali. Kris and his wife Amanda are parents to Colby, Genevieve, and Evelyn. Kali is mother to Payton, Gage, and William. John and Mischelle Wilkerson are the proud parents of daughters McKenzie and Tesa. Karl Wilkerson and Holly Moss, his daughter Hailey and Hailey’s daughter Karlee. In total, Mary was blessed with three sons, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her beloved sisters, Norma Joe McLain Hartsfield and Libby Ann McLain Cargil. Norma Joe is the mother of Daryl and James Hartsfield and their families. Libby Ann and her husband Cliton Cargil have remained a close and loving presence in Mary’s life.

In addition to her immediate family, Mary’s extended circle of love includes Susan, Cheryl, Debbie, and Craig Wilkerson and their children and grandchildren; Perry and Ronnie Moody and their families; and June, Dwayne, and Sherry Tade. She also shared a meaningful bond with Tammy Wilkerson and held a longstanding commitment to the San Jacinto Republican Party, where she was an active and respected member for over 50 years.