Mary Ellen Cobbs

Mary passed away at the age of 91 on January 14, 2021 in the comfort of her home in Phalba, Texas, attended with infinite care by her son Mark, her daughter Brenda, and her two cats, Tips and Peanut, who will miss her dearly.

Born Mary Ellen Wathen on June 13, 1929 in Dallas, Texas to parents Thomas Turner Wathen and Lottie Lee (Jones) Wathen, where she was raised as a member of Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Oak Cliff. Mary Ellen graduated from W.H. Adamson High School, Dallas, Texas, Class of ’46.

Mary Ellen married Lloyd Clinton Penny of Dallas, Texas, who had 1 child. They raised 4 children in Lancaster, Texas and later they built a second home together at Cedar Creek Lake. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Lancaster, a housewife and seamstress. They gardened, raised rabbits, and had dogs as pets.

An avid do-it-yourselfer and seeking to advance her life standing, Mary undertook several home remodels, land purchases, and in 1983 helped create what is now Wood County Airport, Mineola, Texas.

Mary Penny was employed at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, where she met and later married George Arthur Cobbs of Fairview, Texas, who had 1 adult child. She became a member of Fairview Baptist Church, and worked on numerous committees in the church. Her interests turned to the Cobbs Corner greenhouses raising orchids, ferns, flowering baskets, succulents and cactus. They raised goats, bees, and had a large garden.

Some years later Mary and George built a home together in Phalba, Texas where they became active members of First Baptist Church of Mabank. They gardened, hobbied in woodcraft, enjoyed playing dominoes and card games, and traveled extensively in the U.S., becoming lifelong friends with many RV’rs they met along the way. Mary Cobbs was a member of the Phalba Quilting Club, made many of her own clothes, croqueted, knitted, cross stitched, and embroidered with a passion. She enjoyed canning and freezing fruits and vegetables from the garden, berry picking and jelly making, and gathering and shelling pecans.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Thomas Eugene Wathen, and her first and second husbands. She is survived by her children, Sam Penny (Waxahachie, TX), Mark Penny (Mabank, TX), Cindy Penny Haney (Falls Church, VA), Brenda Penny (Jose) Gutierrez (Mabank, TX), step-sons, Jim (Margie) Penny (Long Beach, CA) and Marc (LeeAnn) Cobbs (Trenton, TX), sister-in-law, Lois Wathen (Dibold, TX), nephews, Mickey Wathen, Gary (Christy) Kendrick, David (Tammy) Cobbs, Bobby (Cheryl) Cobbs, nieces, Gina Wathen (Joe) Foran, Patty Wathen (Jimmy) Nunez, 12 grandchildren, Amy Penny (Jason) Lowe, Aaron (Dyan) Penny, Thor (Jill) Penny, Thomas (Lisa) Penny, Paul Penny, Carrie Speake (Russell) Owen, Rusty (Misty) Speake, Laura Haney Harris, David (Amanda) Gutierrez, Jennifer Gutierrez (Jonne) Reynolds, Billy Wayne Cobbs, and Erica Cobbs (Dylan Case), 23 great-grandchildren, Megan Lowe (Daniel) Hansen, Emalee and Nathan Lowe, Ava and Lyla Penny, Garrick, Haylie Penny (Christian) Hernandez-Nava, Emily Penny, Thomas and Jasmine Marek, Samantha and Tabitha Penny, Nicholas Owen, Austin (Kasi) Speake, Ciaran Speake (Dakota) Hamilton, Gavin Harris, Xander Gutierrez, Josey, Jordyn and Jayda Reynolds, Jaycee Marksberry, Lilly and Adlee Case, 3 great-great grandchildren, Avery Speake, Daphne and Maggie Hamilton, special family ties to Lynda Penny, Jackie Pineda, Pam Nelson and David Stephens; her Deacon, Howard Horton, many other special friends and loved ones, plus notable persons from her care team, Sally, Vernell and Lawanda from Hospice of East Texas and Macy, Amanda and Wanda from Home Instead.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, January 18, 2021 at First Baptist Church, 113 East Mount Vernon St., Mabank, TX 75147, followed by a Committal Service at Elm Grove Cemetery, Roddy, TX, where Mary will be buried alongside her husband, George Cobbs, and dear friends Wayne & Sybil Hyde (formerly of Mabank, TX).

Anyone wishing to send flowers may do so to First Baptist Church, 113 E. Mt. Vernon St., Mabank, Texas 75147, #903-887-3921 or to the funeral home Eubank Cedar Creek, 601 S. 3rd Street, Mabank, Texas 75147, #903-887-3111.

The family requests in the interest of everyone's safety in attendance wear masks and practice social distancing, following COVID 19 guidelines.