Mary Lou Sammie McQuown Pepper

Mary Lou McQuown was born in Clymer Pennsylvania on Aug. 4 1930 by Parents Edgar Franklin McQuown and Gliberta Elsie Stevens. They moved multiple times from Pennsylvania to Ohio where they finally settled in Mineral Ridge in time to start 9th grade. She attended Mineral Ridge HS and graduated class of 1948. She attended Mineral Ridge Church of Christ and was a member in the Niles Chapter for Eastern Star.

She met Charles Pepper who came to Niles for work. They married in 1950 and lived in Mineral Ridge several years with her Father and little sister Stephenie. There they had 2 children Peggy and Sonny. Pepper heard about work opportunities in his home state of Texas. She agreed to move the family to Dallas Texas in 1954. There in Casa View, a small suburban neighborhood in East Dallas they raised their 4 children in a 3 bedroom 1 bath home.

Mary Lou was a Homemaker. She opted out of becoming licensed to drive a car or desire to earn a wage working outside of the home. She kept an immaculate home, prepared good wholesome meals, baked pies from scratch, and stretched her husband’s pay check to make certain all bills were paid on time. She balanced the household check book to a penny. She had a 6 day work schedule caring for the family and the home. Monday; laundry, Tuesday; ironing, Wednesday; pie baking, Thursday; beauty shop, Friday; strip beds, scrub floors, dust furniture, then polish. Saturday; grocery shopping with Pepper. Beds were made daily, bathroom cleaned and sanitized, floors swept, carpets vacuumed, meals prepared. She did not deviate from her schedule until the last child flew from the nest. This was her profession, a Homemaker.

As a Mother, she taught good hygiene, use manners, stand up straight, and how to be organized. She taught through demonstration. She mended clothes, baked birthday cakes, and was there when her husband or children were sick. For a woman to loose her Mother at 17, no guidance on Motherhood, she strived to be a better Mom to her children.

In 1998 she agreed to move again with Pepper to Quitman, Texas and make a new home on Lake Fork. They shared a different time together at the lake. There were fewer chores, less rigid schedules, and no more alarm clocks. More trips in their travel trailer, more trips to South Texas to join their snow bird friends. More time sitting out on the screened in back porch surrounded by trees and a view of the lake. It was a time she shared in the lives of her family rather doing for her family. She and Pepper fulfilled their dreams. Mary Lou Pepper became a widow in Jan. of 2005. She continued to remain independent in her home choosing to stay there as long as possible until her death on Jan. 9, 2015

She is survived by her children, Peggy Lee Eller, Son-in-law Walter Eller,(Tony) of Granbury. Charles Monroe Pepper, II ( Sonny) daughter-in-law Gloria Pepper, Dallas. Jo Ann Pepper-Farris, Rockwall. 5 Grandchildren, Preston Pepper and grand daughter-in –law Marisa Pepper, Maredith Armontrout and Grand son-in-law Stephen Armontrout, Grandson Austin Farris, Spencer Farris, and Wilson Farris.

4 Great grandchildren Madeleine: Madyson, Dale Armontrout; Jake Pepper. She had one sister Stephenie McQuown Orris of Mesquite; three nieces Alison Orris spouse Mathew Park of Mesquite, Melanie Orris of Dallas, and Jessica Orris Nance of Grand Prairie. She also had two grand nieces Zoe, Sydney and a grand nephew Zachary.

She was preceded in death by her husband and

Our unforgotten sister Janet Kay Pepper