Mary M. Keating

Mary McHenry Keating died peacefully on Monday, the 2nd of January 2017. Mary was born on the 20th of May 1927 to Harvey Watson McHenry and Ola Nelms McHenry. After graduating from El Dorado High School in 1945 where she belonged to three national honor societies: National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, and Thespians, Mary attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia for two years. She then transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Mary graduated from Northwestern University in 1949 with a BS degree in Economics.

It was in one of her economics classes that she met the love of her life, John R. Keating. Mary and John were married on the 16th of May 1953 and settled in Chicago. Mary worked as a research clerk for the economist of the Chicago Tribune. She loved the job and the research which sent her running all over the building to the newsroom, the newspaper morgue and the library. Mary moved with her husband to New Jersey after he was transferred to work in New York City. They first lived in Summit, New Jersey where their two daughters were born and then moved to Short Hills, New Jersey where they lived for 34 years. While in Short Hills, Mary was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church located in Summit, New Jersey. She served several terms as a deacon, a trustee, and an elder. She also helped count the Sunday offerings every week. Mary was an active member of the Summit Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. As a two-time cancer survivor Mary raised money for the American Cancer Society. She was also active with Meals on Wheels.

Mary served as general partner in the Keating Family businesses. The main focus of the family businesses was timber interests. Her responsible stewardship towards her timber earned her the Forest Landowner of the Year award in 2007 from the Forest Landowners Association. She was a voracious reader of news, especially business-related news in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Time Magazine. Mary set a good example for her daughters and granddaughters of what it takes to be an independent business woman.

Mary was very involved in her children’s activities. She always supported their various interests. In 2002, Mary moved to Houston to be closer to her two daughters and five beloved granddaughters. In Houston, Mary joined the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church where she became involved in the Prime Timers group and Sunday school classes. Upon moving to The Hallmark in 2012, Mary transferred her membership to St. Phillip’s Presbyterian Church where she continued her participation in various Sunday school classes. While living in Houston, Mary enjoyed spending time with her granddaughters. She enjoyed their plays, chorus concerts, walks in the park and lunches. Mary has passed on her love of reading, travel, computers and museums to her granddaughters. She will be remembered for her generosity to others and especially to her family.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey Watson McHenry and Ola Nelms McHenry; her sister, Ann McHenry Lynn; her husband, John Richard Keating; and her daughter, Elizabeth Keating Tezel. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Keating Bradley and her husband Frank and their daughters, Avery and Bethany; and her daughter Elizabeth K. Tezel’s children, Olivia, Julia and Claudia and their father, Isik Tezel.

A funeral service will be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 5th of January 2017 at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe Road in Houston, where Pastor John Wurster is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held at The Hallmark Auditorium, 4718 Hallmark Drive in Houston.

The family will gather at a later date for private interment at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in El Dorado, Arkansas.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to The American Cancer Society at 2500 Fondren Road, #100, Houston, TX 77063; to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77210; and/or to the charity of one’s choice.