MARY BESS SPENCER HOLDITCH

Mary Bess Spencer Holditch, age 82, passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020 at Addington Place in Houston, Texas.

Mary was born in Mexia, Texas, on August 31, 1937 to Charles Roy Spencer and Bessie Ollie Brown Spencer.

She attended Blooming Grove High School, graduating in 1955. In 1957, she married Johnny Wayne Brown. In 1958, she graduated with honors from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, with a degree in Speech and English. She started her teaching career in Mansfield, Texas and spent the next 31 years teaching students at both the elementary and secondary levels. She taught English and Theatre Arts for 20 years in Meridian, Texas, directing the one-act play and mentoring countless budding thespians in prose and poetry reading contests.

Mary lived in Clifton, Texas, for most of her adult life and was a devoted mother in raising her two children there. In addition to her love of teaching, she enjoyed gardening, sewing, and supporting local theatre productions. She was also an active church member and volunteer for civic groups. In June 2000, she married Donald Ray Holditch, and they had many happy years together.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Charles Roy Spencer, Jr. and Theodore “Ted” Brown Spencer, and her husband Donald Ray Holditch.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren: Clinton Brown and grandchildren Riley and Keller; Kristen Brown Cogburn and husband Scott, and grandchildren Joshua and Eva; Carl Holditch and wife Shirley, and grandsons Vince and David; Greg Holditch and wife Katy, and grandchildren Zane, Sarah, and Helen; Rebecca Loyd and husband Steve, and grandchildren Jessica and Karlie; John Holditch; and Robert Holditch.

A memorial service for immediate family will be held on August 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Blooming Grove, Texas.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601.