Marian Estella Stone

Marian Estella Thomas Stone, 99, entered into the arms of her Savior peacefully at her daughter’s home in Lubbock, Texas on March 10, 2026. Her long and beautiful life was a melody of love, faith, music, and family. To know Marian was to know hospitality, kindness, and quiet strength. She lived with open hands and an open heart, reflecting Christ in the way she loved others.

Born in Kingsville, Texas, on August 31, 1926, to Louie Hull Thomas and Gertrude (Ford) Thomas, Marian and her sister, Madge, were drawn to music through the influence of their mother. That early gift would become both her calling and her ministry. Marian graduated from Texas A&I Kingsville, earning her bachelors in Music, majoring in Violin and minoring in both Piano and English, preparing for a life that would shape generations.

On June 4, 1948, she married the love of her life, John “David” Stone of Kingsville, a petroleum engineer. Their marriage was one of deep devotion and partnership. She began teaching in public school before lovingly stepping away in 1950 to raise their four children. Even then, music filled her home as she taught piano lessons and nurtured young hearts.

Due to David’s job in the petroleum industry the family moved often, living in multiple cities in Texas and Louisiana. One of the first things they always did was to quickly find and join a church and then join the church choir. Through it all, her faith in Jesus Christ never wavered. A devoted member of First Presbyterian Church in Midland, Marian served faithfully and loved deeply. Marian performed with local symphonies and chamber groups and sang in church choirs for over 70 years.

In 1964, she returned to the classroom, where her true calling awaited her until her retirement in 1994. For 32 years (the last 22 in Midland ISD) she poured her heart into generations of students who proudly called her “Mrs. Stone.” Music was not simply her profession — it was her praise. In her final days, she sang hymns softly to herself, the same hymns that had carried her through every season of life.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, David, in April 1992, her youngest daughter, Kathryn, in October 2022 and her best friend and older sister, Madge Francis, in November 2022.

She is survived by her children: Ellen Khan and husband Bashir of Sugar Land; John Stone and wife Lee of Tyler; and Vicki Teakell and husband Bill of Lubbock; and Kathryn’s husband Jon Marshall of Colorado Springs, CO. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren; Jason Venable and Julie Makow of Tomball, TX; Richard Morgan of College Station, Conner Morgan of Greeley, CO, Eric Ashwood of Aurora, CO and Isaac Stone of Tyler; Amber Hohman of Sachse, Michael Christian of Lubbock, and Emma Hodge of Detroit, MI as well as 11 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild who are lovingly known as “The Descendants.”

Her earthly song has ended, but her eternal praise has just begun. She now rests in perfect peace, in the presence of her Lord and reunited with those she loved.

Celebration of Life services will be held in the chapel of Ellis Resthaven Funeral Home at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2026 followed by graveside inurnment. Donations can be made to Breast Cancer or BeyondFaith Hospice in Lubbock, whose compassionate care blessed her final days.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” – Matthew 25:23