Mary Jay (Bryan) Fitzgerald

Mary was born in Saginaw, Michigan on May 14, 1949, to William Jennings Bryan and Peggy Jan (McCray) Bryan.

Mary moved from Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to Houston, Texas when she was just 3 years old. As she grew up, she cherished the times she accompanied her dad to BraeBurn Country Club for his golf games. She often reminisced about her childhood, particularly the joyful moments spent playing cards with her father, especially the game of Gin. Her love for music was evident from an early age; she adored Elvis and The Beach Boys. She enjoyed taking day trips to the beach in Galveston, TX with her childhood best friend Nanette Hittmeier.

In 1967, Mary graduated from Bellaire High School, where she was an active member of the Bellaire Belles drill team and the Choir. She continued her education at Sam Houston State University before transferring to the University of Houston. However, her studies were interrupted when a house fire struck her childhood home, prompting her to return home earlier than planned. Mary was a devoted daughter and dedicated herself to caring for her parents and their estate in their later years. She continued to reside in Houston, living in the Meyerland and Willow Meadows communities. Throughout the years, she observed her neighborhood evolve and become a cherished and integral part of the local community. She was a consistent blood doner and part of the 100 club. She wanted to make a difference and to help those in need.

She was a loving wife and mother. Mary married Ronald Fitzgerald on November 17, 1978, and together they had one child, Peggy Marie Wignall. Once Peggy was born, Mary decided to stay home to care for her young child. She eventually opened her own typing company, Mary’s Typing Service, where she was able to work at home to balance her career and motherhood. She had an entrepreneurial spirit and was never afraid to take on a new project head on. She built a long career in bookkeeping and accounting, spanning nearly 45 years working for both family-owned businesses all the way to top-tier national and global firms such as BKD CPAs & Advisors. She served dozens of clients and industries over the years. She was fierce and exceptional at her craft. She always stood up for what was right, even when it was the hard thing to do.

While she made her living working with numbers and their intricate structures, her true passion lay in the arts. She embraced every chance to experience live music and theater, never missing an opportunity to attend a concert or musical. Her eclectic tastes led her to see iconic performers such as Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Diamond over the years. She was also a devoted patron of Theater Under the Stars (TUTS), eagerly attending productions like Oklahoma, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera. Among her many cherished memories, one of her all-time favorite shows was Meet Me in St. Louis.

Mary was not only an admirer of the arts but also a gifted artist herself. Her oil paintings hung throughout the walls of her home, each piece reflecting her evident creativity. Although her family often thought she could sell her paintings, the joy for her was simply in being creative.

Being a mom meant everything to Mary. Her daughter, Peggy, was a touchstone in her life. She treasured family and friends. Over the years, she and Peggy traveled making cherished visits to her best friend Nanette in California, her niece and nephew, Chera and Lee in Alaska, and her beloved brother Bob and his family in Missouri. Mary felt most alive when surrounded by her loved ones, finding joy and fulfillment in their company. She also enjoyed being out to sea. Mary and her dear husband, Ron, have been on 10 cruises together.

Mary found profound peace in nature. With dedication, she planted flowers and tended to her yard, always striving to fill it with rich colors and a sense of cheerfulness. One of her favorite pastimes was lounging in her pool where she would watch the clouds. She would often speak with her granddaughter, Reese, often about the shapes they saw in the clouds and how if you look long enough, clouds disappear. Reese believes that her Gigi is now able to travel on the clouds to wherever she would like to visit.

Mary was a true animal lover. She would sit outside and throw peanuts onto the roof for her squirrels and blue jays. She looked forward to hummingbird season and always put out nectar for them. And she never missed an opportunity to spoil her “grand dogs” by throwing the ball or stashing treats for them in her pocket. More than any other animal, though, Mary adored her kitties. She was home to many cats over the years, but perhaps her most treasured were Joey and her tuxedo cats, Dinah, Mickey, and baby Oliver.

Mary was an avid sports enthusiast, never missing an Aggie football or baseball game. For years, she proudly held season tickets “The Zone,” the newly renovated end zone at the stadium, where she forged lifelong friendships and created cherished memories. Her love for sports extended beyond the Aggies; she was a dedicated Astros fan and eagerly participated in her family’s March Madness tradition, where her competitive spirit and strategy earned her the “2024 March Madness Fitz-Wig” trophy.

Mary’s enthusiasm for games didn’t stop at the stadium. She was an active member of a bowling league, a Canasta group, and enjoyed dominoes with friends. Being “Gigi” to Reese and Wyatt, she delighted in spending time with them through puzzles, coloring sessions, and an array of card games. Each moment spent with her family was a treasured part of her vibrant life. She is deeply missed by all who knew her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, William Jennings Bryan and Peggy Jan (McCray) Bryan; sister, Lana Jan Bryan; brother, Robert “Bob” Bryan and many other special relatives and friends of whom she is now celebrating with in her heavenly homecoming.

Mary is survived by her husband, Ronald Gerald Fitzgerald, Houston, TX; daughter, Peggy Marie Wignall and husband, Chett, Houston, TX; two grandchildren Reese Marie Wignall and Wyatt Wells Wignall; one brother-in-law, Philip Thomison and wife, Annette, Denton, TX; one sister-in-law, Wanda Bryan Lucas, Union, MI; one sister, Ellen Reznicek, Plantersville, TX; four nieces, Chera Boom, Anchorage, AK, Paige Burnett and husband Mervyn, Round Rock, TX, Anne Stahl and husband Edward, Washington, MI, and Brenda Brown, Magnolia, TX; four nephews, Lee Thomison, AK, and Joseph, Jesse, and Matthew Reznicek, TX; two great-nieces, Leanna Brown and Heidi Stahl; three great-nephews, Tommy Stahl, Dylan and Nash Burnett; and her beloved cat, Oliver; and many other relatives and friends.

Service details:

Celebration of Life service will be held at Westbury Baptist Church on Saturday, August 24th, at 3pm.

Westbury Baptist Church

10425 Hillcroft St, Houston, TX 77096

(713) 723-6428

The family has chosen a private burial that will follow on a later date at the Houston National Cemetery on Veterans at 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038.

The family was served by Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, Bellaire, Texas, under the care of Anthony Crespo.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to these charities for saving animals, a cause very near and dear to Mary’s heart: Friends for Life at friends4life.org and Houston Pets Alive! at houstonpetsalive.org