Mary was a native of Amarillo, Texas. She was a child singer in early radio in the Texas Panhandle. Wesley Izzard, radio pioneer and publisher, was her first announcer in the mid 1930's. Mary traveled with Cal Farley's troupe taking entertainment to small towns in the dust bowl days. She attended high school in Corpus Christi. While a teenager, she was a part of a team teaching Red Cross water safety/survival to Naval personnel headed to war in the Pacific.
She received a journalism degree from North Texas State in Denton. She was a newspaper reporter, columnist, and feature writer for the Amarillo Globe-News in the 50's and 60's. Married to Bob Natho, radio-tv engineer in 1953. Wrote short features for the Dallas Times Herald and Dallas Morning News magazine sections after moving to Dallas in 1969.
Mary heard constant harmony in her head. She composed and arranged children's music. Mary was a Life Long Presbyterian. She was active in the NorthPark Presbyterian music program. She was also a music volunteer at Dallas nursing homes. She was a Kindergarten music teacher as well as a Red Cross water safety instructor for 43 years. On staff for two National Red Cross aquatic schools.
Survivors: three remarkable children, Gena, Sheila and Robert. Robert's husband and Mary's devoted Son in law, Aaron Parrish, who was Mary’s 24/7/365 caretaker for the last 7+ years, Aaron's father Billy Parrish and wife Karen Parrish, Aaron's mother Jan Stewart and her husband Jeff Stewart, all of their numerous nieces and nephews, and Gena’s husband John Richerson, all from the DFW area. Nephew George Stone of Hawaii, his daughter Lailani of Alaska.
Preceded in death by her husband Robert “Bob” Natho and her sister Margaret Stone.
The family burial plot in Gainesville includes descendants of esteemed Judge James R. O'Neal, a founder of Grayson, Fannin, and Cooke counties, an early Texas Ranger, Army of the Confederacy, and first judge of Grayson County.
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, and may the sounds of beautiful music continue throughout eternity!
A visitation for Mary will be held Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225.
A funeral service will occur Monday, May 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home.
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