Mallie DeLong Lasater

Mallie DeLong Lasater passed away peacefully at her home in Mertzon on December 31, 2014 at the age of 103. She was born Mallie Drew DeLong on August 16, 1911, at her parent's ranch in Schleicher County, Texas, and was the third daughter of George W. and Ruby Lee Thompson DeLong, pioneers of the Concho County. Her grandparents George Washington (Wash) and Sylvinia DeLong, were among the first to settle this area. She grew up in Mertzon, where she graduated with the Mertzon High School Class of 1929. In 1930, she attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and then returned to Mertzon where she caught the eye of the love of her life, Aaron Mills Lasater, son of long-time Mertzon residents, Roger and Lola Lasater, who were old friends of the DeLong family. Mallie and Mills were married October 22, 1933 in Tyler, Texas. They lived in various Midwestern states where Mills was employed with the Herndon Drilling Co. Their favorite pastimes were dancing and bridge. In 1945 they came back to Texas with their children Linda and Roger, where they ranched in Ward County and were active in church, school, and community at Pyote. Upon Mills death in 1966, Mallie moved back to Mertzon.Mallie served on the Mertzon City Council and was an active and faithful member of the Methodist Church. She retained her skills at bridge, enjoyed her membership in the Ding-a-Lings bridge club on Spring Creek and loved to read and travel. She visited all the states in the union, Canada, Great Britain, and several other European countries.Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Aubrey (Nan) DeLong, sisters Love Boyd (Layton), Vinabel Hall (Weir), Nell Mayse (Howe), and three children: twins Aaron Mills Jr. and Drew DeLong Lasater (both deceased at birth), and son Roger Mills Lasater II. Survivors include her daughter, Linda, a psychoanalyst in Los Angeles; surrogate daughter Lee Perry; very special nephew and niece, Hubert and Shirley Payton; dear friends and caregivers, Bertha Montez and Ninfa Holtz, and loving caregivers Isabel Montez, Leonor Garza, Kara Montez, Jamie Meeks, and Nancy Sandoval. Also surviving her are special nephews and nieces: from the W.D. and Alice Lasater Family: Jim (Barbara) and Angie (Tom); from the Frank and Lynette Lasater: Frank (Lea), Ed, Roger (Debra), and Andy (Karen); from the Hubert and Shirley Payton Family: Tom (Pam), Debbie (Ron) Geske, Donna (John) Gordon, and Lisa (Patrick) Dougherty; from the Howe and Nell Mayse Family: Bob (MaryAnn), John (Fran) Bert (Jennifer) and Susan (Randy) Searcy. She delighted in the children and grandchildren that issued from all these nephews and nieces, and those from loving friends.She also leaves behind to cherish her memory, many, wonderful long-time friends who shared laughter and prayers, including her Wednesday prayer group – Frances Grice, Pat St. Clair and Judy Wilkerson, and a beloved church family. Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church of Mertzon, the Monte Noelke Memorial Library in Mertzon, Concho Valley Girls Club of San Angelo or to the charity of your choice .Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 105 W. Juanita Avenue, at 10 AM, Tuesday, January 6, 2015, with Rev. Mark Smith and Rev. Phil Steinbach officiating. Active pallbearers include Scott Holland, Wesley Janek, Doug Keys, Dan McClung, Gary Tankersley, and Loye Tankersley. The interment will follow at Mertzon Cemetery.