Mary C Pemberton

After fighting hard and standing strong against a rare form of leukemia, Mary Caroline Holick Pemberton emerged victorious and went home to be with the Lord on Friday, April 14, 2017 at 72 years of age. Mary was born July 12, 1944 in Temple, Texas to Joe and Mary Holick.  The youngest of five children, she grew up a hardworking farm girl in Little River-Academy where she developed a love for the outdoors, growing flowers and vegetables, and then cooking and even canning those vegetables… and she was good at it!  She never lost her love of these things, spending hours with her children and grandchildren sharing her passion.  Mary’s mother, Mary Kovar Holick was born in Czechoslavakia, and her Grandfather Holick came from Moravia, and she was always very proud of her Czech-Moravian heritage.  She had three brothers and one sister… Johnnie Holick of Riesel, Robert Holick of Giddings, Jodie Holick who preceded her in death, and Georgia Forney of Salado. On September 11, 1961, she married Gene Pemberton of Temple, and they were married for 55 fruitful years.  They have three children, Gary Pemberton and his wife, Susan, from Temple; Allen Pemberton and his wife, Lisa, from Woodway; and Lisa Daun, and her husband Kerry, from Temple.  She was a tremendous wife and wonderful mother. Mary graduated from Academy High School and, until her children were grown, she considered her role as mother and homemaker a great privilege, a huge honor, and her highest ministry.  When she was 48 years old, she went back to school to pursue a desire to become an interpreter for the deaf and hearing impaired -- a desire that she had carried for a while -- and she succeeded!  She graduated in 1995 with honors from McClennan Community College and immediately began to fulfill this desire.  She worked in the Temple and Belton school districts as an interpreter, and she truly loved her work, those she worked with, and, most of all, the students that she interpreted for.  With these many years as an interpreter added to a few previous years as a school secretary for TISD, she worked with students for 30 years.  She was going for 31 years, but the disease got in her way. Mary had a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.  Her love for Him, her intimacy with Him, and her faith in Him was a faith that many people have never known.  She was a member of Bethel Assembly of God and then she became a vital part of Waters of Life Christian Center.  She took great pleasure in singing and worshipping God, she was a true “prayer warrior”, and her life impacted many in a positive way.  She loved being a daughter, a wife, and “Mom”, but most of all, she treasured being “Gima” to five wonderful grandchildren… Brandon, Andrew, Jeffrey, Elisabeth, and Emalye.  Her grandkids were the highlight of her life.  She loved to spend time with them, they all loved to go to Gima’s to play, cook, or even can pickles, beets, or tomatoes.  Her love and presence here will be missed by many.  Her fight with leukemia is over, but her new life in Heaven is just beginning. A celebration of her homegoing will be held at 10:30 Wednesday morning at Bethel Assembly of God.  Visitation will be Tuesday evening 6:00-8:00 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home.  The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Scott and White Hospital as well as the Scott and White Hospice team for their care and sincere concern.  Memorials may be made to Access & Overflow Ministries; 3910 Sumac Drive; Temple, TX 76502 or to the Charity of Choice.