Mary Lou Gonzales Urias

Mary Lou Gonzales Urias, 82, passed away peacefully May 7, 2019. She was born in Fort Stockton, Texas, on October 18, 1936 to Luciana Rivera and Felix B. Gonzales. After the death of her mother in 1939, Mary Lou grew up in the loving homes of the Rivera and Gonzales families in Fort Stockton, Texas. She graduated from Fort Stockton High School in May1955. On August 20,1955 she married Agapito “Pete” Velasquez Urias, the love of her life. Mary Lou and Pete arrived in Austin, Texas the evening of August 20, 1955 to begin their new life together. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage until Pete’s death on January 2, 2019.

Mary Lou and Pete welcomed into the world five loving children: Laurie Ann, Thomas Rene, Carol Lynn, Rebecca, and Sarah Elizabeth. Carol Lynn blessed her mother with a grandson, Justin Urias Bauer. Mary Lou was equally blessed to welcome a second grandson, Kyle Taylor from her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth and husband, James Randall Stanfield. Thomas Rene became the father of three daughters, Madison, Cassandra, and Amy.

Mary Lou Urias continued her education by attending St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. In 1980 Mary Lou graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Education, accomplishing this while taking wonderful care of her husband and raising five children. Mary Lou will always be remembered for educating countless first grade students that attended Dawson Elementary School in South Austin. Mary Lou was a faithful member of the St. Ignatius Catholic Church since the early 60s and was an active member in the St. Ignatius Choir for over 20 years. Mary Lou loved her children, grandchildren, husband, friends, and school family. One of her greatest joys in life was attending the retired Dawson teachers’ luncheons and traveling with the group to visit former librarian and First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, at the White House and during visits to Austin.

Mary Lou is survived by daughter, Laurie Ann Calderon and son-in-law Saul Calderon; Thomas Rene Urias and wife Rhonda Williamson Urias; daughter Carol Lynn Urias; daughter Rebecca Gonzales Urias; and daughter Sarah Elizabeth Stanfield and her husband James Randall Stanfield, and Nick Bauer, father to Justin Bauer. Mary Lou leaves behind five grandchildren: Justin Urias Bauer, Kyle Taylor Stanfield, Madison Louise Urias, Cassandra Urias, and Amy Urias. She is also survived by many loving family members in Arizona, El Paso, and her brother and sister in-law Carlos and Mary Urias, sister-in-law Sarah Swonke, and brother-in-law Benny Urias.

Visitation: 5:00 pm – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress Avenue. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Internment will follow the mass at Assumption Cemetery in South Austin.