Mary Ellen Osborn

Mary Ellen Osborn was born on November 18, 1946, to Paul & Jessmae Nelson in Forest City, Iowa and passed away on May 11, 2024, in Conroe, Texas. Mary grew up in her family’s jewelry store in Forest City where she learned the value of hard work, dedication to her family, and community. After completing school in Forest City, she started working for Dayton’s department store in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she met a young man that she fell in love with and married, Jim Osborn. From Minneapolis they ventured onto different homes, each time moving farther south, until finally arriving in Willis, Texas, where they would live out the remainder of their lives.

During Mary’s career she managed multiple retail stores until she joined her husband’s real estate office in Willis, Texas. Following her retirement from real estate, Mary joined the District Attorney’s office for Montgomery County Texas and worked there until her official retirement in 2019. Mary was active in multiple organizations throughout the years including the Montgomery County Republican Party and North Shore Republican Women’s Club. She worked on the Ballot Board for the Montgomery County Elections, the Montgomery County Library Board and volunteered with Willis ISD. She also volunteered with First United Methodist Church and the Montgomery County Fair Association. Mary was always there with a helping hand for anyone that needed it.

Mary enjoyed traveling the United States with her grandchildren, where she created lifelong memories with them in locations ranging from the rocky coast of Maine to the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, and the vast expanse of the Midwest.

Mary is joined in Heaven by her parents, her husband, Jim Osborn, her brother, Jim Nelson, her brother-in-law, Jim Pechacek, and her son-in-law, Pat Baker. Mary leaves behind her loving family: her daughter, Barbara Baker of Conroe; her son, Patrick Osborn and wife Jehn of Fairplay, Colorado; her daughter, Kelly Clark and husband Jim of Conroe; her brother, Robert Nelson and wife Sue of Linch, Wyoming; her sister-in-law, Suzanne Pechacek of Lakeville, Minnesota; her grandchildren, Ryan & Mariah Baker, Shane & Olivia Baker, Elizabeth & Dan Jircik, Nathaniel Osborn, Lainey Osborn, and Taylor Howell; her great-grandchildren, Charlotte “Charlie”, Noah, Zelie, Levi, Addison & Kasidee; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will host a Memorial Gathering at the Honor Café in Conroe, TX on June 12, 2024, from 5-7 PM for anyone that would like to attend. In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to Children’s Safe Harbor (childrenssafeharbor.org).