Mary Catherine (Montgomery) Epps

Mary was born an identical twin on February 2, 1931 to Carrie and Hugh Montgomery. She went home to be with our Lord on April 21, 2017 in her 86th year after struggling for many years with physical disabilities and ultimately succumbing to Leukemia diagnosed in late 2016.

Mary was a native Houstonian who lived in the Houston area all her life. She dedicated her life to the Lord at age 13 and was baptized at Second Baptist Church in Houston. She graduated from Lamar High School and attended the University of Houston downtown campus at night to get her Insurance Underwriter's Certificate. She married Franze Sr., her husband of 40+ years, in 1952 and started her family soon after.

After her first son, Franze Jr., was born, she started and ran a successful custom made drapery and interior decorating business for many years. She taught furniture re-upholstery classes as well. She moved on from the drapery and decorating business to focus on China Painting and Porcelain Arts, being a teacher and an active member of the Porcelain Arts Club of Houston for over 25 years (including serving as President of the Club for a period of time).

After numerous surgeries on both knees and wrists and increasing debility from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Mary was forced to give up her Porcelain Arts business and Club work as well. Her last big adventure was learning to play the organ, ably guided by her dear friend, Jim Connors.

Mary walked with crutches and later used a power wheelchair for more than 20 years prior to her death. Mary also spent her last 4 years living at The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, an independent senior living community where she stayed active and involved up until the week before her passing.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Franze Sr., her oldest son, Franze Jr, her older brother, Hugh “Doug” Montgomery, and her brother-in-law Dudley Epps. She is survived by her youngest son, Darrell, his wife Catherine and her three grandchildren, Andrew, Sarah, and Iain. She is also survived by her identical twin sister, Martha "Marty" Oliphant, her niece Karen Oliphant, her sister-in-law Bama Montgomery, her niece Paula Cade and her family, her nephew Douglas Montgomery and his family, her sister-in-law Polly Epps, and her nephews Dwayne and Brad Epps and their respective families.

Mary is now free of her pain, debility, and suffering and is reunited with her Lord. We rejoice in her release and in her reunion with those loved ones who departed before her.