Mary Lou Mereness, of Victoria, Texas, passed from this earthly life into glory on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at 92 years of age. She was born in South San Antonio, Texas on November 17, 1926. She married her childhood sweetheart, Lyman Talcott Mereness, on March 16, 1945. Married 61 years, before his passing in 2006, they first met when Lyman and his family moved next door when he was 11 and she was 8. At the time of her death Mary was a member of the Blythe Church of Christ.
She is survived by her children and their spouses: Lyman Mereness and wife Dana, of Victoria, Cheryl Goode and husband, Howard, of Victoria, and Ben Mereness and wife Jackie, of Amarillo, Texas. She is survived by eight grandchildren and their spouses: Tyler Mereness and wife Diane, of Nashville, Tennessee, Amy Cady and husband David, of Ewa Beech, Hawaii, Janay Vorpahl and husband Derek, of San Antonio, TX, Tamra Denoyer and husband Todd of Victoria, Texas, Kody Goode and wife Jenny of Abilene, Texas; Kevin Mereness and wife Lauren of Dallas, Texas, Kent Mereness and wife Brynn of Canyon, Texas; and Kory Mereness and wife Mandy, of Roseburg, Oregon. Those marriages have blessed her with 14 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Dot Phillips of Oklahoma, and brother-in-law Bert Mereness of Arizona, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends still living who loved her and were blessed by her life and faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Otha Phillips and Amy Gertrude Phillips Daugherty and step-father, E. E. Daugherty; her sister, Adell Brownlee and husband Lee; and brothers, Clifton and wife Louise, and Marvin Phillips. She was also preceded in death by a grandson and three great grandchildren.
Mary loved her family and friends. She was devoted to the Lord, to teaching others about Jesus, and creatively sharing stories from the Bible. As an incredibly gifted Bible school teacher, she spent hours not only preparing her lessons but working into the late hours of the night creating take-home crafts for children in her Bible classes, Vacation Bible School, and for those who rode to church on the Joy Bus.
She was loving and kind but also fiery and passionate. She delighted in the loudness and laughter that was so often present at family gatherings.
The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Claire Bridge of Victoria (Greatwood Homes of Victoria) and to Crown Hospice for their professional and loving care which has been provided these past few years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Crown Hospice, 1101 Salem Rd., Suites, A-D, Victoria, Texas 79904 or Eastern European Mission, PO Box 55245, Hurst, Texas 76054.
Share memories with the family at colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com
