Mary Ellen Thanheiser Finnegan

Mary Ellen Thanheiser Finnegan passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the age of 94, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. She was born on October 1,1931, in McPherson, Kansas, to parents William Forrest and Florence Sammons Ford. She grew up in Amarillo with her older sister Betty Lou and her younger brother Bill. She attended Mt. Vernon College in Washington, D.C., and graduated with honors from The University of Texas at Austin. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, where she made lifelong friends.

Mary Ellen moved to Houston after her college graduation, where she met Will Hugh Thanheiser, known as Shug. They married in 1955 and had three children: Ford, Matt, and Adele. Theirs was a very happy marriage and family life, until Shug’s untimely death in 1977.

Mary Ellen was a stylish city girl, but she learned to love weekends at the family farms near Brookshire and Columbus, despite the occasional wildlife in the farmhouses. She became a helpful partner to Shug in the family’s small cattle business, keeping excellent records and learning way more about cows than she ever thought she would. Her family loved horses and riding, so she tried to overcome her fears, even taking secret riding lessons to impress Shug. But she was much happier sitting on her farmhouse’s front porch, watching the river go by.

She was the main caretaker of all the family pets over the years, even the ones that loved Dad best. Dad’s policy was, “Sure, you can bring it home.” So Mom ended up looking after dogs, cats, rabbits, an incubator-hatched chicken, turtles, snakes, and mice (her least favorites).

Mary Ellen loved the Gulf Coast beaches and the Texas Hill Country, and was always up for a getaway to either location. She loved to travel, especially if someone else did the planning, even though she was one of the most organized people around.

After Shug’s death, Mary Ellen enjoyed a happy relationship with her companion Fred Winchell, who passed away in 1988. She loved spending time with his children and extended family.

Later in life, Mary Ellen was very lucky to enter into a joyful marriage with Bill Finnegan in 2001, and was so happy to be a part of his large family. Sadly, Bill died all-too-soon in 2003.

Mary Ellen, as Mom and later as Mimi, was a constant presence at her children’s and three grandchildren’s activities: successful horse shows, bad piano recitals, happy camp pick-ups, graduations, sports of all kinds. She was always there, cheering on her loved ones.

Mary Ellen worked in retail over the years, and especially loved the interaction with customers. Plus any discount on clothes and jewelry. She was a long-time survivor of colon cancer, and she gave M.D. Anderson Cancer Center full credit for curing her cancer. She was so grateful that she became a dedicated volunteer there for many years. She was a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for over 60 years, and served on the Altar Guild for 25 years.

She was also a very involved member of several organizations. She belonged to the Junior League of Houston, where she served as president from 1970-71. She joined the River Oaks Garden Club, where she was president from 1985-86, and was instrumental in getting the Forum of Civics building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mary Ellen is preceded in death by too many loved ones: her first husband Will, her dearest friend Fred, her second husband Bill, her beloved sons Ford and Matt, her sister Betty Lou Garrett, her brother Bill Ford, her brother-in-law Charlie Thanheiser, her sister-on-law Moselle Ford, Bill’s son and Matt’s close friend Hal Finnegan, extended family members, and way too many devoted friends. And of course, her much-loved cats Lilly and Inca, who she called her best friends

She is survived by her daughter Adele, her daughters-in-law Giggy and Lauri, her siblings’ children, her late husband Bill’s family, and her favorite people in the world: grandchildren Will and wife Haley, Hall, Ellen and husband Tim, and great grandchildren Perry and Augie Thanheiser.

Mary Ellen’s family is so grateful to: Amazing Place, for giving Mary Ellen and other participants with dementia a place to go for enrichment; her

friend Lorena and the other lovely caretakers who enabled her to stay at home for as long as possible; the Hospice nurses and aides, and all the staff at Jasmine Cottage in Katy, who took wonderful care of her until the end.

And many thanks to her long-time hairdressers and dear friends: the late David Robicheaux, and Kelly Walters and the Qua Salon staff, who always kept Mary Ellen looking sharp.

Mary Ellen will be missed by many here on earth, but she has been welcomed in Heaven by all those she loved and lost. She will be buried at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, next to her husband Will, after a private family service. Rest in peace, Mom.

If you wish to make a donation in Mary Ellen’s memory, please consider the following organizations that were so meaningful to her:

Texas A & M University, President’s Endowed Scholarship Fund

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church

The Junior League of Houston

The River Oaks Garden Club

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

The Alzheimer’s Association

Amazing Place