Mary Goodrich Baskin

Born and raised in Marlin, Texas, Mary attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., before graduating with a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1946, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi. Following graduation, she turned down a job offer from Vogue magazine in Paris to marry James D. Jim Baskin in June 1946, shortly after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Mary and Jim had great fun as a young Navy couple, making friends and experiencing the best of post-war America at such duty stations as Honolulu, Long Beach, Pensacola and Annapolis.

Mary and Jim left the Navy in 1954 and returned to Texas, where Jim earned a law degree from the University of Texas. Following law school, they settled in San Antonio, where Jim practiced law until his death in 2003.

Mary threw herself into family and civic life in San Antonio. A lifelong Presbyterian, she was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, communion bread baker, and member of Presbyterian Women. She was a member of the Battle of Flowers Association, Le Club, the San Antonio Bar Auxiliary, the Military-Civilian Club, and the Merry Widows. She volunteered at Mission Road Development Center, Victoria Court, and SAMM. She and Jim were active in the Democratic Party.

Mary devoted most of her energy to raising her four children, Molly, Jamie, Bob, and Stuart, and seeing to their educations. She always had a smile and an encouraging word except when her children vexed her, which was often. She instilled in them a love of laughter and learning, and a sense of duty to serve others.

Mary is survived by her four children, Molly Baskin and Tony Brooks of Wilmette, Ill., Jamie and Elizabeth Baskin of Austin, Bob and Elizabeth Baskin of Richmond, Va., and Stuart and Amy Baskin of Tyler; nine grandchildren: Peyton Brooks, Caroline Brooks, Chase Northington, Alex Northington, Liza Baskin, Whitney Baskin, Sarah Baskin, Campbell Baskin, and Mary Peyton Baskin; one sister, Louise Weezie Burton of Marlin, and one brother, Horace Goodrich of Houston. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and friends, and by special friend, Salvatore Ferragamo.

A SERVICE OF WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011

3:00 P.M.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

404 N. ALAMO

A RECEPTION TO FOLLOW IN THE MCCULLOUGH ROOM

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be directed to the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium, 1107 S. 8th St., Austin, TX 78704, www.hispanicscholar.org, or to a charity of the donor's choice.