Mary Moore Free Hosford Ph.D.

Mary Moore Free Hosford, Ph.D. passed away peacefully from this earthly life and into eternity on April 28, 2019. She was 86. Born in Paris, Texas on March 6, 1933 to Margie Lou Moore Hubbard and Dudley Crawford Hubbard, she grew up in an old Texas family she loved and admired. After her 1950 graduation from Paris High School, where she was honored to be homecoming queen, she attended Ward Belmont School for girls in Nashville, Tenn. From there, she headed to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, an institution and experience that shaped her full adult life in love, living and learning.

Following in the footsteps of her namesake aunt Mary Moore Searight, she pledged Pi Beta Phi Fraternity and felt great happiness always with her many wonderful friends whom she adored. “I am grateful, for their love and support always, and especially during some very sad times in my life,” she said.

A smart and dashing member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at SMU captured the heart and attention of Dr. Free. Clever as she was, after leaving her white gloves in his car following their first date to compel a return visit by him, she married Dwight A. Free, Jr. in 1954. She called him her “geological scholar,” and fittingly, their favorite annual outing together was dancing and dining among peers and friends at the Dallas Petroleum Club Ball. Their most cherished activity together was grand-parenting Mary Caroline and Jennifer, who called her “Mary Mommy.”

Dr. Free’s grandfather was the late William Folsom Moore. She was particularly proud of his service as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. Judge Moore inspired her to believe in the importance of higher education and learning, and so it was also at SMU, where Dr. Free earned four degrees. They included her B.S. in 1954, M.L.A. with honors in 1981, M.A. in 1987 and double Ph.D. in biological and medical anthropology in 1989.

Dr. Free became the house anthropologist at Baylor University Medical Center in 1990. She authored two books, published numerous research articles in scientific/medical journals, served on the editorial board of a scientific/medical journal, and presented papers at national and international scientific symposia. She was recognized throughout her career with such honors as being elected as a fellow of the American Anthropological Association and named to Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, among others.

Her zest for life was as evident as her academic credentials through her big, bright smile and revels with her family and friends. She consistently engaged in the HPISD PTA and myriad additional school activities and social festivities with and on behalf of her three children. She enjoyed traveling, the performing arts and gardening. She loved collections of fine things in her home and good-looking clothes for her family. She ate peanut butter on bananas, marveled at the wonder of angels and heart-shaped things and—as we will all fondly remember—her poodles! “All dogs can shake hands but only poodles can shake back,” she would say.

A wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, her energy was boundless, and her curiosities and interests were endless.

Dr. Free is predeceased by her first husband of 40 years and father of her children, Dwight A. Free, Jr., and their twin sons Hardy Moore Free and Dudley Agey Free. As well, she is predeceased by her second husband of 11 years, Richard Gordon Hosford, M.D.

She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Margery Free and Caroline Free Bagot (Drew); two granddaughters, Jennifer Free Waters and Mary Caroline Trenholm; and three great-granddaughters, Chloe, Peyton and Brooklyn.

The family expresses its sincere appreciation to the staff of Monticello West, where she happily and actively lived out the final years of her life. We also want to thank our own very special and treasured friends who have shouldered the load with us—you are selfless and kind, and we love you!

A service to celebrate the life of Dr. Free will happen on Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m., in the Chapel, at Evergreen Cemetery, 560 Evergreen St., Paris, Texas 75460. Following, the family will lay her to rest there with Dwight, Hardy, Dudley and her parents.

In lieu of floral tributes and to commemorate her commitment to higher education and learning, contributions may be made to the Dallas Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi (address below) in support of literacy and education in our Dallas community or the charity of your choice.

Dallas Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi, 9478 Spring Branch Drive, Dallas, TX 75238