Mary Frances ("Tudie") Mears Gleason

Mary Frances (“Tudie”) Mears Gleason died on January 11, 2025, at the age of 79, surrounded by her family at Lambeth House in New Orleans, following a brief and sudden illness. She was born on April 14, 1945, in San Antonio, Texas, where her father served as a U.S. Army officer during World War II.

Mary Frances was preceded in death by her parents, John Savior Mears of Portland, Oregon, and Mary Elaine (“Lanie”) Leverich Mears Collenberg of New Orleans, as well as her beloved husband of 53 years, Harvey Gardère Gleason of New Orleans.

Mary Frances is survived by her children: John Harvey Gleason and Mary Elaine Gleason Acquistapace (Ethan) of New Orleans, Edward Campbell Gleason (Virginia) of Naples, Florida, and Laura Gardère Gleason Crawford (Stephen) of Nashville, Tennessee; her siblings: Arthur Maxwell Mears II (Janetanne), Elaine Claire (“Toby”) Mogabgab (Paul) of New Orleans, and Michael Leverich Mears, Peter Leverich Mears, and Thomas Savier Mears, all of Seattle, Washington; and her grandchildren—Howard Chapman Gleason, Eleanor Frances Gleason, Claire Sophia Gleason, Coerte Gardère Crawford, and Charlotte Suzanne (“Lottye”) Crawford.

Mary Frances grew up as the eldest of six children in Lake Oswego, Oregon, a rural community just outside Portland. She graduated from Catlin Gabel High School and briefly attended Smith College. After her father’s death in 1962, the family relocated to her mother’s native New Orleans. Mary Frances enrolled at Newcomb College, where she met Harvey Gleason, a charming young law student. They married in 1966. She lived briefly in Quantico, Virginia, and San Diego, California, while Harvey was deployed to Vietnam. Later, they returned to New Orleans, where she raised her family and became a dedicated community volunteer.

She served as President of the Junior League of New Orleans and as a board member of Kingsley House. Later, she co-founded a start-up called “The Mexican Connection,” becoming an early international entrepreneur. She went on to serve Tulane University for almost three decades, where she coordinated the curriculum committee and supported the education of thousands of young students.

She was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, the Junior League of New Orleans, Kingsley House, the Garden Study Club of New Orleans, the Lambeth House Episcopal Lay Ministry, and an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Her love for family and strong Christian faith were the cornerstones of her life. Passionate and curious, she shared her many hobbies with her dear friends, including knitting, needlepoint, gardening, icon painting, bridge, mahjong, and especially cooking. She had a deep fascination with ancient Egypt, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and science fiction. She was also a devoted dog lover. Above all, she treasured her grandchildren, engaging with them in person and through online games whenever possible.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by a private family interment. A reception for family and friends will follow at Lambeth House, 150 Broadway Street. For those unable to attend in person, a livecast of the service can be accessed at https://trinitynola.com/live/.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Endowment Fund. The family invites you to share your memories and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com