Mary Lou Matheny

Mary Lou Matheny, 96, entered her New Life March 5, 2016 at her Clarewood House apartment in Houston. Mary Lou was born November 30, 1919 in Waco TX, the fourth child of William Reece and Jennie (Gouldy) Hearn. Mary Lou attended East Waco Elementary School and graduated from Waco High School as an honor graduate in 1937. The family was very active in Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church South in Waco, where Mary Lou dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized. Following graduation from Waco High School in 1937, she received a tuition scholarship to Baylor University, but due to the Great Depression and the death of her father, she attended National School of Business in Waco, then followed her family to Houston. The Hearn family joined First Methodist Church in downtown Houston in 1938, where Mary Lou sang in the choir and was an active member of the Young Adult group Epworth Fellowship. In 1940 the church sent Mary Lou as a delegate to Assembly at Mount Sequoyah, AR, which was an exciting and inspirational experience for her. Her future husband J.K. “Jake” Matheny III saw her singing in the choir & knew immediately that he would marry her. He joined the choir, having a beautiful tenor voice, and the Rest is History. When the church made a promotional film to promote the wholesome qualities of church activities, the Christian Education director chose Jake & Mary Lou to be in the film, which demonstrated *boy meets girl” and how that meeting culminates in a Christian marriage. Their 3-year courtship was within the Epworth Fellowship, and following his graduation from the University of Houston the couple was married by Dr. Paul Quillian in the sanctuary April 2, 1941. Herbert Rohloff was organist and Walter Jenkins, choir director, sang “I Love You Truly.” Dr. Quillian advised the couple “Stay close to your Lord and His Church, and your marriage will be blessed.” Mary Lou framed a prayer from Dr. Quillian, and it has hung in her home since that time.

In Houston, Mary Lou was hired as the first secretary of the newly-formed engineering firm Lockwood & Andrews, being described by founder Mason Lockwood as “the best secretary I will ever have”. Mr. Lockwood served as a mentor for Mary Lou, as she began her career in the business world. Jake and Mary Lou welcomed daughter Mary Carmen Matheny January 20th, 1943, and Carmen was one of the first babies to be baptized in the new chapel of First Methodist church. The family lived in San Diego while Jake completed his service in the Navy following Hiroshima. While there, Mary Lou worked as a Civil Service Medical stenographer at the San Diego Naval Hospital. The family returned to Houston, built their first home, then several years later enjoyed 2 years in the southern Hill Country of Texas while Jake worked in that area. The family attended now-historic Sabinal Methodist Church, where they sang in the choir and were active in a small class for couples. They then attended historic Del Rio Methodist Church, where the couple sang in the choir and sponsored the high school Methodist Youth Fellowship. Upon their return to Houston, they purchased a charming cottage they had long admired, and that home is the one where Carmen spent her adolescent and teen years. Jake and Mary Lou continued their service in First Methodist, singing once again in the choir where they had met. The couple joined the Adelphi Sunday School Class, which has provided Mary Lou with many lasting friendships. They also taught Junior High School Sunday School and became sponsors of the Older Youth Department for young working adults. Training for Older Youth sponsorship was held at Lakeview Methodist Camp, which gave daughter Carmen her first introduction to this beautiful retreat, which was so important to her during her years in the church. In 1957-8 the Mathenys published in their home the weekly class newsletter for Adelphi Class, the Tower. While Carmen was attending Southwestern University in Georgetown TX, the couple moved to Tulsa OK for Jake’s work. There they became active in Boston Avenue Methodist Church, sang in the choir, and belonged to the Wesley Fellowhip class. They planned the class retreat at Camp Egan near Tahlequah OK in 1964. Mary Lou was active in W.S.C.S. and received a Missions Corsage for teaching a WSCS Missions course. Mary Lou completed 20 non-consecutive years as a secretary for Houston Independent School District, beginning with her years as secretary of Macgregor Elementary School, where Carmen was a student. She then served as secretary to School Superintendent Dr. Moreland. Her service was interrupted by her years in West Texas, as well as the years in Tulsa OK. Mary Lou retired in 1977 as Secretary to the HISD Board of Education. While there, she also served as secretary to the Bi-Racial committee appointed to oversee integration of HISD schools. Memberships associated with her school service included HEOP, HART, and TRS. Jake and Mary Lou continued their membership in First Methodist Church throughout their lives, serving as members of the Administrative Board. When Oxford Sunday School class was formed, they became active members and both served terms as President. Under their leadership the class supported many mission projects. Mary Lou also joined the Memorial Study Group UMW Circle and served as its chairperson 1989-92. Mary Lou served on the Board History Committee and was asked to compile an index to the 1951 book Cloud of Witnesses, by Lewis Howard Grimes, which records the history of First Methodist Church up to the publishing date. She received several commendations for her work on that project, which she completed in January 1989. Mary Lou served many years as an elected member of the Administrative Board and was named a Lifetime Member in 2001. In 1967 Jake & Mary Lou built their longtime home in Houston, the Red Barn on Briar Bayou Ave in NW Houston. At this time, they were planning the wedding celebration of their daughter Carmen to Glen Gaines in Tulsa. This home is the one remembered by their grandchildren in the ensuing years as *Nana & Pa’s House*. In this home, neighborhood board meetings were held by new pastor Dr. Bill Hinson to determine the purposes, goals, and outreach of First Methodist Church. Longtime friend, Charles Thompson (now Rev. Charles Thompson) was in attendance at those meetings. When Jake & Mary Lou built their retirement home in Memorial Thicket in 1990-91, Oxford Sunday School Class attended the blessing and dedication service & dinner for their new home, which was conducted by Dr. Bill Hinson. Following her beloved husband’s sudden death March 2, 1995, their 54-year earthly marriage came to an end, but Mary Lou remained in her home for 10 years. She then moved to her apartment at Clarewood House, where sister Lola also resided. Mary Lou’s artistry was evident in her beautiful homes. She loved beauty, color, order, and wherever she lived her surroundings reflected that graceful touch. She had many hobbies, but her favorite was photography; her photo albums and scrapbooks are works of art. Through these albums, she beautifully documented her life, marriage, and family. Her daughter, grandchildren, and extended family treasure this legacy, and her example has encouraged many in the family to continue this Labor of Love. Mary Lou’s photo albums also include wildflower and tree scrapbooks, another of her many hobbies. Throughout their marriage, the Mathenys spent many weekends & vacations at the Volz Ranch in Leon County, where Jake’s mother Madie Volz Matheny was born. This time in the country provided many opportunities for Mary Lou to use her photography skills…documenting the cattle herd, branding time, wildflowers, and all manner of flora & fauna. She also enjoyed the dark skies, stars, & moon, as well as all the *night sounds*. At one point, some of those *night sounds* were the drilling of one of the three oil wells on the old Volz Ranch. When Madie deeded the ranch to them, Jake and Mary Lou continued the cattle ranching for several years, then sold all but 20 acres to use as a retreat from their busy lives. Mary Lou dubbed this lovely retreat *Tranquil Twenty* Her daughter Carmen and husband Glen built their retirement home on Tranquil Twenty in 2002, and the family continues to enjoy the color and beauty of Leon County. Mary Lou and Jake gave abundantly of their time and resources to their family, their church, and a number of Christian organizations. She continued that tradition, and when she viewed a wall of refurbished stained-glass windows in the church sanctuary she saw her family, as each window memorializes one or several of them. To honor her baby brother she funded the refurbishing of a children’s Sunday School classroom. She was a member of the Houston Club, a Junior League Tea Room Patron, and a former member of the Women of Rotary, the Delphians, and Women’s Aglow Fellowship. When she was in her 30’s she attended night school at University of Houston, completing sophomore hours. One of her most fascinating experiences during that period was participating in studies at the Carl Jung Educational Center when Mrs. Ruth Fry was Director. But Mary Lou’s main focus was her family, striving to be a good daughter, wife, mother, and loving Nana to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her most significant legacy is her boundless love, her graciousness to all, her deep intelligent spirituality. She was a Southern Lady in all respects. Always beautifully attired, she was genteel and kind to every person she met. She considered physical death a happy graduation from the School of Earthly Life and looked forward to the time when she would take the Hand of the One with whom she had dwelt her entire life and be led into her new Adventure with Him. Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents; beloved husband J.K. Matheny III; dear son-in-law Glen Gaines; sisters Jennie Reece Hearn and Lola Hearn Haertig; brothers John Dudley Hearn and William Chauncey “Baby Man” Hearn; brother-in-law Ernst Haertig and sister-in-law Sunshine Hearn; precious nieces and nephew Martha Jean, Barbara Sue, and Johnny Hearn. She is survived by daughter Mary Carmen Matheny Gaines; grandchildren JoLynne Gaines Reppond (Mark), Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli (Anthony), and Kenneth Gaines (Tammy); great-grandchildren Jordan and Lane Reppond, Emory and Park Gaines, and Rush, Zayah, & Kobe Lakin; beloved nephew Bill Hearn, and a host of family & friends. Special thanks to Hospice Plus and Christian Companions caregivers.

Visitation will be held at noon on March 10, 2016 in the Grand Chapel at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, with services to follow there at one o'clock. Graveside services will follow at the Matheny plot near the chapel. Floral gifts are welcome, and those desiring to honor Mary Lou’s memory may donate to First United Methodist Church, 1320 Main St, Houston TX 77002 or to a Christian charity of choice.