Mary Louise Reeder

On Saturday, November 18th, shortly before dawn broke, Mary Louise Reeder awoke as she always did,
thankful for another day. Though her body was frail and tired, her spirit was full of grateful appreciation
to be able to draw another breath every second she was graced on earth. She lived on her terms and
was ready to leave when the Lord called her into his eternal care.
Mary was born in Quanah, TX on August 3rd, 1928, to Clarence and Amy Jewel Webb. She grew up during
The Great Depression, hauling a child-sized hoe and knapsack to pick cotton in the fields in Hooleyan, TX.
She graduated from high school in the 11th grade. After high school, she worked for Bell Telephone
company in Amarillo, TX. Shortly after graduation, she met Russell Lee Reeder, whom she married three
months later. She was 17 years old when she married, but only after the courthouse called her mother
who had to grant her permission. Mary and Russell were married for 46 years and had two wonderful
children. They started their business, Reeder Plumbing, in Amarillo, TX in the 1950s, and moved their
business to La Porte, TX after the Airforce base in Amarillo closed in the mid ‘60s. They ran their
successful plumbing business until Russell’s death in 1992.
Mary had a life-long love affair with black-eyed peas (on new years’ day), pinto beans and cornbread, her
crochet needles, watching Wheel of Fortune every night at 6:30, and spending hours at the casino with
her best friend, “the one-armed bandit.” She once won a jet boat on a nickel slot machine! She could
proudly out bowl anyone in the family, bowling in leagues for over 30 years. Mary and Russell loved
square-dancing, taking a “line and a pole” to the nearest fishing hole, recycling aluminum cans, and they
spent more time in Vegas than Elvis himself.
Mary had a super-human memory. She kept a calendar with names of birthdays of all her relatives, some
dating back to the 1800s (or so we all believed).
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Russell, her son Russell Reeder, Jr. (Rusty), her parents,
Clarence and Amy Jewel, and her son-in-law, Rick Fuller. She is survived by her sisters, Helen Bownds,
Yvonne Bryant, and Judy Edwards. Mary is survived by her daughter, Sandra (Sandy), and her daughter-
in-law, Glenda Reeder. She was the proud and loving Memaw of her grandchildren, Jessica Rollins and
her husband Paul, Randal Reeder and his wife Kate, Jeremy Parker and his wife Kristy, and Rick Reeder.
Step-grandchildren, Ricky Fuller, Jr. and Michael Fuller. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren:
Makenzie Reeder-Shumate, Chelsea Rollins, Jaylin Parker, Daxton Reeder, Makaela Reeder, Joseph Parker,
and Jaycob Parker. Six step-great grandchildren, Ashlee and Dustin Fuller, Samantha Novosad, and Austin,
Jaden, and Dylan Fuller. Great-great grandchildren: Blaise Shumate, Autumn Parker, and Aliza Tackett,
plus many loving nephews and nieces.
Mary lived 95 glorious years. The last 8 ½ years under the careful and loving care of her devoted
daughter, Sandra.
We will forever adore and remember you … your warm smile, infectious laugh, and loving, generous
heart. Always forgiving, never condemning. You loved us no matter what. In your words, “Here’s to
everything good and nothing bad.”
“A gracious woman gains honor …” Proverbs 11:16  Services to be held on Saturday, December 2nd, at 11:00 am in the Mausoleum Chapel at Memorial Park
Cemetery, 6969 East Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79118.

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