Mary Claydean Music Elkins Claiborne

Mary Claydean Music Elkins Claiborne “Nena”, a beloved matriarch and vibrant spirit, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2025, in El Paso, Texas, surrounded by her cherished family. She was 86 years old and leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and laughter that will resonate in the hearts of all who knew her.

Born on April 16, 1939, in Pearl, Texas, Mary Claydean, affectionately known as Clay, was the daughter of Stoney Virgil and Myrtle Mae Clay Music. After graduating from Jal High School in 1957, she moved to Dallas and worked for Lockheed Martin and married Alvin Glyn Elkins of Priddy, Texas, on October 25, 1958. From there they moved to Jal, New Mexico, and built a beautiful life raising their two children, Mitchell and Deana, along with a cherished community of great friends around them. Clay was devoted to her community by working hard and contributing her talents to the First National Bank, El Paso Natural Gas, and Jal Public Schools, and her creativity shone brightly in her flower and gift shop. She brought joy and laughter to countless lives and had a knack for keeping folks in line. Clay poured her love of Jal into her role as mayor and especially enjoyed her tenure on the New Mexico Lottery Board.

After the loss of Glyn in 1997, Clay married her high school sweetheart, Marshall Glendon Claiborne, in 2001. They moved to Burnet, Texas, in 2010, where Clay embraced the joys of family, forging deep connections through bridge games, church activities, and her work at Madlyn's, a clothing store in Marble Falls. A lover of life, the Lord, gambling, golfing, genealogy, shopping, traveling, spending time with family, and the Christmas season, she knew how to have a good time. She always had a twinkle in her eyes and a warm embrace ready for her family and friends.

Claydean is preceded in death by her parents Stoney Virgil and Myrtle Clay Music; her first husband Alvin Glyn Elkins; father and mother-in-law, August Leon and Alwine Seider Elkins; father and mother-in-law, Marshall L. and Nettie Lea Claiborne; sister, Madge Music Pinder and husband Jerry Pinder; brother-in-law, Charles Leon “Dutch” Elkins; sister-in-law Pearl Elkins Whaley; bonus daughter, Dana Martin Johnson; and special pets, Prissy and Charlie.

Claydean is survived by her loving husband, Marshall Glendon Claiborne. Sister-in-law, Gay Claiborne; sister-in-law Sandra Macrobie; son, Mitchell Glyn Elkins and wife, Denise Janine Atkinson Elkins; daughter, Deana Ellen Elkins Thomas and husband Michael Brooke Thomas; and her treasured grandchildren: Christopher Glyn Elkins, Taylor James Elkins, Sarah Ellen Thomas Calfee and husband, Brenton Clay Calfee; Aaron Michael Thomas and wife, Addie Jane Shipley Thomas. Great grandchildren: William Glyn Elkins, Ellen Denise Elkins, Culley Thomas Calfee, Lane Claiborne Calfee, Charlie Marshall Thomas, Millie Jane Thomas, and Shiloh Maddox Thomas. Brother-in-law Bob Whaley and wife Loujuana Whaley; nephews Michael Pinder and spouse Holly; Eric Pinder and spouse DeWayne; Bobby Joe Whaley and wife, Judy; Charles Allen Elkins and Darel Lane Elkins; nieces, Evelyn Whaley, Lesa Whaley, Loni Smith and husband, Kelly; and many other nieces and nephews. Clay is also survived by countless friends including several very special friends who became her extended family.

A graveside service is being held at Jal Cemetery on Saturday, October 25, 2025. A memorial service in Burnet, Texas, will be announced later. Casual dress is encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Weakday Ministries, 309 East Polk Street, Burnet, TX 78611, or at weakdayministries.com.

Mary Claydean will be deeply missed by those who knew her by her sassiness, her kindness, her joy, and all the things that made who her she is! We hope her memory will forever inspire those who were fortunate enough to know her forever. ONE OF A KIND!