Mary Lee DeGroot

Mary Lee Brinkley DeGroot, age 88, of Southlake, Texas, formally Hilton Head, South Carolina and Omaha, Nebraska passed away on October 24, 2024. Mary Lee lost her husband of nearly 59 years in 2019 and moved to Southlake to be closer to family. She was a beloved mother to Missy (Alex) Elder; Mindy (Stu) Kiefer; Peter (Emily) DeGroot and Kurt DeGroot, precious Nana to ten grandchildren, Jake (Alison), Sam (Riley), Emma (Jacob), Matthew Elder; Tyler (Harper), Ben (Cassidy), Charlie Kiefer, Finn DeGroot, Max and Lily DeGroot and two great granddaughters, Mary Ruth Elder and Eleanor Kiefer. She is preceded in death by her husband, Mr. L.P. DeGroot III, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Brinkley and brother, Mr. Paul “Pete” T. Brinkley, Jr.

Mary Lee was born in Wilson, North Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Atlantic Christian College and was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. After graduation she began her teaching career as a 4th grade teacher in Virginia Beach. It was in Virginia Beach that she met a Marine from Chicago. They started their married life in Chicago but eventually ended up in Omaha where they spent 38 years raising their family. He always promised to take her back to the South and the beach so they retired to Hilton Head and enjoyed almost 20 years there.

She believed in giving back to the community and was a volunteer for many organizations in Omaha and Hilton Head. She enjoyed playing bridge both in person and, thanks to Covid, online with friends from all different states. She cherished the “Omaha Bridge Group” girls trips, her P.E.O. sisters in Omaha, Hilton Head and Southlake and all her bridge and Mahjong friends. Her pride and joy though were her children and grandchildren. She taught each one of them to live their life with a kind heart and to show grace to others. She lived a life full of faith, was a true Southern Belle, and made a difference in the lives of everyone who she loved and whose friendship she treasured.

Internment Private Bronswood Cemetery, Oak Brook, IL

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to P.E.O. Sisterhood at www.peointernational.org or P.E.O. Sisterhood, 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312 or the charity of your choice in Mary Lee’s name.