Mary Lou Tierney

Mary Lou graduated from Norwood High School and the University of Cincinnati, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She met her future husband Ralph in college, and they were married in 1951. While Ralph attended medical school and then joined the U.S. Air Force, Mary Lou worked as a primary education teacher. They were stationed at various locations across the country including, Phoenixville, Pa.; Cincinnati; Montgomery, Ala.; Limestone, Maine; San Antonio; Omaha, Neb. and Memphis, Tenn. Her proudest career achievement was teaching first grade at North Norwood Grade School, the school she attended from kindergarten to eighth grade.

After Ralph left the military, the couple moved to Fort Worth, Texas for 10 years, before finally retiring to Odessa where they lived until 2012.

Along with her husband, Mary Lou raised six children. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, wife and friend who often talked about her charmed and happy life. As Ralph often said, “She was just like her father: She loved the world, and the world loved her.”

Mary Lou loved to sew, sing, socialize, play the piano and indulge in anything sweet. She was also an avid traveler, visiting all 50 states and more than 30 countries with Ralph. She met lifelong friends along the way, and, until her death, stayed in touch with friends she had known since childhood.

She is survived by her husband Ralph; children David Tierney and spouse Melissa Wall Tierney of Allen, Texas, Anne Tierney of Lockhart, Texas, Elizabeth Dolan of Dallas, Jane Tierney of Austin, Jan Tierney of Alexandria, Va. and Judy Tierney of Austin; six grandchildren Sarah Niyogi (husband Somrat Niyogi), Thomas Tierney (wife Amanda Tierney), Lt. USN Gregory Tierney, Collene Tierney, Christopher Dolan and Kevin Dolan; and five great grandchildren Brooke Tierney, D.J. Tierney, Gavin Tierney, Mia Niyogi and Dylan Niyogi. Her beloved younger sister, Jean Albers Kitchen, preceded her in death.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27, at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 Greenville Ave., Allen, Texas, 75002. Her ashes will be interred in the columbarium at St. Jude immediately following the mass.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the Tierney family.