Mary E. Elder

Mary Elaine Elder was born Mary Elaine Lowrey to Nugent and Marjorie Lowrey in Austin, Texas on February 27, 1925. She was a graduate of Austin High School and later graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Journalism in 1946. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority while in college and wrote articles for the university paper.

Her mother ran a boarding house for university students and it was here she met the love of her life, Tom Elder. They married on March 31, 1946 and moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he attended Harvard Medical School to become a doctor. While Tom attended med school, Mary worked as a secretary for Boston’s Lying-In Hospital. Mary and Tom settled in Dallas, Texas in 1953 where Dr. Elder established a full time practice and she became a full time mother to two daughters, Joanne and Diane.

Having a zest for life, Mary was very involved in The Oak Cliff Women’s Book Club, playing with numerous bridge clubs, being an active member of the First Christian Church of Duncanville and later Asbury United Methodist Church of Pasadena. She enjoyed all kinds of crafts, going shopping, attending musicals, going to the circus annually, attending Dallas Cowboys football games, and traveling. Over their 42 years together, Mary and Tom traveled all over the world with friends and family. They had a special spot in their heart for Hawaii having visited there four times. Later in life, Mary’s passions centered around enjoying watching her grandson grow up, her love of Blue Bell ice cream, and enjoying her precious cocker spaniel, Judy.

Over the past several years, Mary has been attended by some special earth angels that the family will be forever grateful. To Carrie, Mary, Rhea Deanna, both Lisa’s, and Sophie we thank you for making her days so blessed with wonderful things to do and for so much love given. The family would also like to recognize the care and compassion given to Mary by Clear Lake Regional Hospital and Vitas Hospice Care.

Mary is preceded in death by her mother and father, Nugent and Marjorie Lowrey, her husband, Dr. Tom Elder, and daughter, Joanne Wood. She is survived by her daughter and son in-law, Diane and Ray Peppo of Pasadena, TX, son in-law Joe Wood of Duncanville, TX, grandson Clint Peppo of Dallas, and first cousin, David Warren of Austin, TX.

A visitation will be held at Grand View Funeral Home on Spencer Highway Thursday, Oct.20th from 5 to 8pm. Another visitation will be held at Laurel Land Funeral Home at 6000 R. L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas, TX on Friday, Oct. 21st from 5 to 8p.m. with a graveside service held at Laurel Land Cemetery Saturday, Oct. 22nd at 11a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Rose at 12700 N. Featherwood, Houston, TX, 77034, to help people affected by breast cancer.