Mary W. Roberts

Mary Wanda Roberts, 87, died the morning of December 4, 2022. Mary, also known as Bebe to some of her family and close friends, was born in Jal, New Mexico to Buddy and Christine Whitworth on August 31, 1935. Because her father worked in the oil fields, the family moved often during her childhood among several different US states. Although they moved often, Mary’s mother always made sure that she had a piano to play beginning at a very young age. This created an appreciation for music and the arts that was a huge part of Mary’s entire life.

After Mary graduated from Jefferson High School in Jefferson, TX in 1952 at age 16, she went directly to college and graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1956 at age 20, majoring in Education. Mary was the Table Tennis champion at the university. During this time, she also began writing poetry and short stories about her life and experiences, some of which have been published in books, periodicals, and newsletters throughout the years.

In January 1957, she married Tommy D. Roberts. They lived in East Texas and had two children, Susie and Scott. After their divorce in 1962, Mary moved to Houston, TX with her children and taught school at Southland Elementary until 1968 when she accepted a teaching position at Lincoln Elementary in North Las Vegas, NV. Mary packed her ’67 pink Mustang with her belongings and she and the kids moved to Las Vegas, NV. That summer, they lived at the Stardust Hotel on the Strip for several weeks until their furniture arrived.

Mary worked full-time until she was 77 years old – 60+ consecutive years – sometimes two jobs at once. She held various jobs throughout her life including Teacher, Secretary, Auditor, Writer, Artist, Fortune Teller, Casino Dealer. She was a member of IFSEA Las Vegas branch in the ‘70s/’80s while working at the original MGM Grand and editor of several newsletters winning awards. Mary’s artwork of paintings in oils and pastels is spread out in many places – she gave away many of her paintings throughout her life just to make room for the next one that she was working on. She was awarded “Secretary of the Year 1988” in Las Vegas and worked for 25 years (until her retirement) as a Blackjack Dealer in Las Vegas - the last 12 years as a Dealer at Palace Station. In 2011, at the age of 75, she was thrilled to be cast in the first Station Casinos ‘We Love Locals’ campaign of commercials, print ads, and billboards that she appeared in.

Mary liked crossword puzzles, game shows, going to the movies, arcades, casinos, going to restaurants (Italian or Mexican), fishing and horseback riding (in her youth). Her favorite music was Swing Jazz, Country, and Classical. She appreciated the different places she lived in the US and visited in parts of Europe in her life, and the people she met along the way. But most of all, she absolutely loved Las Vegas – the glitz, the glamor, the shows (she saw hundreds of shows), the celebrities (she knew a few), the casinos, and especially, the people of Las Vegas. She had lived in Las Vegas just short of 50 years when she moved to Wichita, KS to be near her family.

Mary is survived by her daughter Susie Vickery (Jay), her son Scott Roberts, grandson Mason Vickery, granddaughter Jessica Lowther, great-granddaughter Meylynn, and cousin Sandra McGehee.

She was preceded by her parents and her brother Bill Whitworth.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Roberts family.