Mary Katherine Poulos

She was born on the 30th of October 1935 and was the youngest of three children, having an older brother and sister, Dexter and Elizabeth. Her parents, Dexter and Bertha Leslie, raised their family in Birmingham, Alabama. Shortly after high school, Mary K. was married to Lewis Bryan Hutcheson from 1955 through 1980. They had two children, Vicki Lynn and Carol Buckner (married to Lowell Ross Buckner), all currently residing in Houston. In 1984, she married Michael J. Poulos (deceased 16th of November 2018) and enlarged her family to include his two adult children, Denise Poulos, currently of Houston and Peter Poulos (deceased 2001). Together they have ten grandchildren, Garett Hagendorf (married to Rachel), Hutch Hagendorf, Haley Hagendorf Payne (married to Preston Payne), Amanda Buckner Lavi (married to Moti Lavi), Madison Buckner, Kelly Buckner, Michael James Poulos II (married to Danielle), Megan Poulos, Taylor Poulos, and Petra Poulos; and nine great-grandchildren; Brooks Hagendorf, Beau Hagendorf, Behr Hagendorf, Elliott Lavi, Michael James Poulos III, Nicholas James Poulos, Matthew Peter Poulos, Zoe Wagner, and Bodhi Shane.

Mary K. (aka “Mimi”) graduated from Phillips High School in Birmingham. She devoted her life to her family. Over the years, she was associated with organizations including the Houston Rodeo, Ladies of the Rodeo Society (LORS), and Holly Hall. In 1995 she was co-founder of the Michael J. and Mary K. Poulos Foundation. Through the years, the Foundation has supported many charitable and non-profit organizations. Mary K.’s greatest joy was spending time with her husband, Michael (“Papou”) and their children and grandchildren. After Papou retired, they spent most mornings golfing at the River Oaks Country Club and most afternoons at their favorite local restaurants including Houston’s, Carrabba’s, A’Bouzy, and Brasserie 19. Mimi and Papou, at their Houston home “26 South,” were the centerpiece and gathering place for all family events. Mary K. and Michael enjoyed dividing their time between Houston and Newport Coast, California. In recent years, life for Mary K. was quieter as she bravely coped with dementia. She spent time with family and was cared for with love and compassion by caregivers including Elizabeth Darden, Ishyeshia Austin, Margie Onuoha, Maria Banda, Elizabeth Ashade, Yvonne Tambjo, and Khadijat Olaniyan, among others.

A most special and heartfelt thank you is extended with much love to Maria Chavez, the Poulos House Manager. She was with Mary K. and Michael for over 34 years and was vital in her role as keeper of the home, caretaker, and constant companion. Maria will always be a beloved friend of the entire Poulos family.

Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a visitation from ten o'clock in the morning until noon on Friday, the 7th of March in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half past two o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 7th of March in the chapel of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where the Rev. Ryan Trushenski is to officiate.

The family will gather for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

We want Mary K.’s celebration of life events this Friday to be joyful and fun, full of the gracious and jubilant spirit that she and Michael shared with those in their orbit. In this regard, we suggest that all in attendance find something pink to put on in her honor. Everyone who knows her will know why!