She was born, Mary Lou Flynt on December 30, 1930 in the city of Ardmore, Oklahoma to Elmer and Isabel Flynt. Looking for work, her parents decided to move from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. Her father took a job driving a tractor, helping build the grapevine highway and North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego during World War II. They settled in the small town of Holtville California and did farming as well as construction. When Mary was just ten years old, she contracted pneumatic fever and lost hearing in her left ear. But, this never seemed to change her cheerful demeanor. She even suffered from COPD later in life, though she was never a smoker. There was always a smile found on her face no matter what adversities or challenges came her way.
When Mary was sixteen, her parents had another child born, Robert Flynt. She grew to love her sweet baby brother “Bob” like nothing else. At that time she worked in the only Five and Dime store in Holtville and she attended Holtville High school. She became known as the “Million Dollar Baby in the Five and Dime Store.” She was even crowned “Carrot Queen” in 1948 at the annual Carrot Festival. She sang in the church choir and had an angelic voice. She also worked as a Nurse’s aid, otherwise known as a Candy Striper. She was a consummate nurturer. A few years later she said, “Yes,” when Marvin Henderson asked to marry her. He felt “Lucky” to have won the Carrot Queen’s heart.
Marvin and Mary moved to San Diego after he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. Not long after that, their first child was born. In all, Mary gave birth to four children: Clark, Leslie, Bruce and Steven.
They were stationed in such places as Hawaii, New York, San Francisco and finally, back to San Diego where Marvin retired after twenty-six years of service, and took over a thriving small business of which he named, “Marvin Henderson Marine Surveyors.” His work was highly respected by the Tuna Boat Association and the San Diego Yacht Club, and was well known locally and abroad. Mary worked as a secretary for the business from time to time. She kept busy helping Marvin in her home office. She also loved to study the Bible and attended Bible Study Fellowship for years, where she came to be a teacher as well. Mary Lou was always involved and served in whatever church they called home.
She was a domestic engineer extraordinaire. Everyone knew her as an amazing cook, baker, seamstress and homemaker, ready to welcome family and guests with joy. She was also known to have a green thumb and loved to spend time in her garden. She was especially proud of her roses. Mary had an artistic eye, not just for floral arrangements, but she was also a gifted oil painter.
When she was fifty-seven years old she was afflicted with breast cancer. While she was recovering in the hospital, she went from bed to bed telling others about the love of Jesus Christ, her Savior. She wanted everyone to know the love of God. She beat her battle with cancer and became an even stronger advocate for her faith. Her neighbors loved her sweet personality and welcomed the bright light that she was in the neighborhood.
Marvin worked until he was eighty-three, and Mary Lou worked alongside of him. She was widowed when on February 1, 2018, Marvin became suddenly ill and passed away. Afterwards, while still struggling for years with COPD and progressive Alzheimer’s, she carried on living for almost a year in his absence. While at home on January 15, 2019, Mary also slipped away from her earthly body and went to be with the Lord and her beloved Marvin, just two weeks before the one-year anniversary of his death. They both died at the age of eighty-eight. She will be laid to rest by Marvin’s side at El Cajon Cemetery.
She is survived by her four children, nine grand children, and fifteen great- grandchildren, of whom she was so proud. She will be remembered as an optimist, an encourager, a woman of great faith, and a giver of grace.
Mary Lou brought love and kindness wherever she went. She made this world a better place. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.
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