Mary Evelyn Ebey "Willoughby"

In her own words she wrote her life story and wanted to make sure we shared it with you all today.

So often we attend services called “Celebration of Life” and it turns out to be not much of a celebration but a sermon that jerks every tear a person has. My idea of a Celebration of Life is just what it says. I hope today everyone here will leave this place full of joy and happiness to have known me. So here goes.

Our home was like in the country but just barely within the city limits. When I say like in the country-We had a fenced chicken yard with a hen house providing all the eggs we could use and a cow always named Daisy providing all the milk and cream and butter we could use, vegetable garden and fruit trees-apple, pear, plum, and figs, also pomegranates.

We were blessed with Mary and Ella who helped with the washing and ironing. They were like family and taught me at an early age to love people who didn’t look just like me.

My Grandmother Clark lived with us and it seemed like cousins who were grown were living with us a whole lot.

I guess now-a-days Daddy would be known as a city farmer. He worked for the railroad and we could always ride the train free, not that we went very much, but it did come in handy when I went away to college- Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, where I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree.

My parents had no formal education but were the smartest two people I have ever known. I remember Daddy looking at my “sheepskin” and I said “Daddy, I wonder what you would be doing if you had the opportunity that I have had.” His answer was, “I hope I would be doing exactly what I am doing today, because I like what I’m doing. And I hope that you will always enjoy what you’re doing. And I always have!

I met John Ebey when I was working for Magnolia Petroleum Co. now known as Mobile Oil, in Shreveport, LA. In Fact, I taught him his job. Of course, they paid him more than me, but that’s just the way it was then, and I thought nothing of it. Later at a Service Award Luncheon, they told the story that I had complained years later that he didn’t make enough money, and he fired back “Well, you didn’t teach me very well.”

We married and each worked in the Dallas Office. What a great place to work-downtown Dallas. New wonderful friends and Bosses.

Our son, Michael (Mike) and John Patrick (Pat) made our family complete and I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home and not work. Those were the happiest days of my life. All the young mothers stayed home then.

God took John away from us when the boys were teenagers and we became a trio. I devoted every thought and action to the welfare of my sons, which I have never regretted. By then I was working for RISD and could be home in the summer months. The only way John let me go back to work was his finding Lenora, who was there before I left for work and when the boys got home from school. They loved Lenora dearly.

John and I joined First Christian Church in Richardson in 1955, it’s now United Disciple Christian Church. As this writing it’s still my church, especially the Friendship Class-They are my family.

In 1998 I married an old family friend when I was 72 years old. Lonnie Willoughby. He lived only 3 years. I never changed my name from Ebey.

I don’t know how or when I’ll be called home but know it will be God’s will and I hope every memory of me will be something happy and FUNNY STORIES AND NO TEARS!!

I hear Pat, Mike, and Barry saying now “Mama always had to have the last word.”

I hope someone plays the piano or organ loudly- for people to exit-preferably: “When the Saints of marching in” or “We’re marching to Zion.”

A visitation for Mary will be held Tuesday, October 11, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sparkman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX 75081. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, October 12, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX 75081. A private family Committal Service will follow.