She was born in Gonzales, Texas on November 26, 1925 to Pedro and Maria Rivera and adopted by Leo and Mary Jimenez.
She was married to Joe C. Gonzales for seventy-one years.
Mary J. Gonzales worked and had a career in Clerical/ Manifesting for Lone Star Shipping, INC.
She was a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church and had a passion for gardening and constructing puzzles.
She was preceded in death by grandchildren; Corrie E. Gonzales, Jerimey S. Laws, and Laura M. Jasinski.
She is survived by her husband, Joe C. Gonzales, Children; Joe Carlos Gonzales (spouse Tiny), Linda Laws, Ruben Edward Gonzales (spouse Jonnie), grandchildren; David Gonzales, Zac Gonzales, Dusty Booth, Eric Garcia, Dallas Laws-Portillo, Jarrod Laws, Andrea Garcia, Matthew Reyna, Peter Gonzales, Sara Gonzales, James Simpson, and sixteen great-grandchildren.