Mary Helen Fritts Wilson, 100, of Murphy, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 29, surrounded by the family she so dearly loved. She was born October 2,1923 in Comanche County.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; her parents, Pete and Mae Fritts; and three brothers, Travis, Joe, and Glen.
Mary graduated from Comanche High School. She was known as a fashionable woman with impeccable style and the highest standards for quality and customer service. These traits would serve her well as she began her career as a sales associate at Thornton’s department store. Within five years she was the fashion buyer for all five stores in the west Texas chain. It was a prestigious role that afforded her the opportunity to travel and share her love of shopping with others.
An avid reader, Mary could almost always be found with a book nearby. She also stayed mentally sharp by working the daily newspaper crossword puzzles. Mary enjoyed playing bridge, not just for the game but for the relationships that came with it. After she retired, she played at least three times a week. Grandmother, as she was affectionately known by her immediate family, also never missed an opportunity to enjoy a game of Skipbo or Mexican Train with them. She may have cheated a time or two, but she never would have admitted it.
Mary loved her family well, and holidays were always a special time for her to catch up with them. In her later years, after her hearing declined, her ability to interact was impaired. But she could often be spotted with a radiant smile, beaming with pride at her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a generous person, never passing an opportunity to share heartfelt words of love and encouragement, especially on birthdays and milestone occasions. And if those celebrations involved Mexican food, that was even better.
Mary was a member of First Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, where she was an active member of Nancy Ellis’ Sunday School class. She attended up until several years ago when she moved from her longtime home to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Murphy. Even though Mary was unable to attend church in person, she enjoyed watching messages by Dr. Charles Stanley and Dr. Jack Graham every week without fail.
While her health struggles grew as the years added up, Mary remained as active as she could and never lost her sense of humor. She could not have received better care than she did by her family, and we are all grateful for their example of faithfulness, sacrifice, and love.
She is survived by her daughter, Glynda (Jim) Hansen of Murphy; grand-daughter, Jennifer (Wade) Hallisey of Murphy; grand-daughter Michelle (Garrick) Conner of North Little Rock, AR; great grandson, Jackson Conner of Washington, DC; and two great grand-daughters, Kate Hallisey of Dallas and Caroline Conner of North Little Rock.
A graveside celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Comanche
