Mary Jean Stitzlein, 87, of Houston, TX, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2024, in her home at Willow Fork Alzheimer's Special Care Center. She was surrounded by her children, their spouses, and her sister as she made her way to her heavenly home.
Funeral services will be 2:30 pm, Friday, April 26, 2024, at Trinity Baptist Church. Located at 10000 Spring Green Blvd., Katy, TX 77494. Officiating will be Pastor Josh Guajardo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Sharpstown Baptist Church. www.sharpstownbaptist.org

Mary Jean was born in Jacksonville, Texas on April 6, 1937, to Alfred Baxley (A.B.) Nelson and Pauline (Pat) Lucille Patterson Nelson. Her father was a butcher in the family grocery store and her mother had a dry goods shop next door. When the Great Depression hit Texas, the family then moved to Charleston, South Carolina where Alfred worked on ships in dry dock at the Naval Base. While in Charleston, Mary Jean took tap dancing lessons and loved to perform in fancy costumes at dance recitals. After WWII started, her father heard about Dow Chemical Co. He went to Texas for an interview and was hired immediately. After he sent word home to his family, they moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, in February 1947.

Mary Jean loved art and was a talented artist. Her art was showcased in the Lake Jackson Jr. High yearbook, where she was the artist for the 1952 Lake Jackson Jr. High Annual. Her drawings are scattered throughout that yearbook.

Mary Jean was active in her Jr. High and High School Band. She played the clarinet and then became a baton twirling Majorette and later Drum Major. Mary Jean graduated from Brazosport Consolidated High School in 1955.

Mary Jean attended college in San Marcos – at the time, Southwest Texas State Teachers College. She pursued her love of art, taking classes in Art Education, rather than taking her father's desired route of business. However, she preferred working over going to college, so she came back to Lake Jackson and started working for a doctor's office to transcribe dictation. With a desire to be off on her own, Mary Jean's grandfather loaned her the money to buy her first car - an Edsel - and she moved to Houston where she found an apartment with a roommate and a job transcribing for another doctor.

She continued working in various secretarial positions and was living with her roommate Mary Lou when she met Teddy Kenneth Stitzlein, Jr. He and his roommate, Bill, were hanging out at the pool and that's where they both met their future spouses!

Mary Jean and Kenneth were married March 27,1965, and moved to Sharpstown. Kenneth worked for Shell Oil Company and Mary Jean stayed home to raise their three children. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. During that time, Mary Jean volunteered at the elementary school in the nurse's office and was an active presence in her children's lives - supporting them through soccer, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, drill team, marching band, and various church activities. Forever keeping her love of art alive, she also enjoyed sewing, painting, and making crafts with her daughters and friends.

Her husband, Kenneth, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and retired from Shell in 1985.  She lovingly devoted her life to his full-time care.

When her kids went to college, she went back to work, first at HBU in the endowment office and then on to First Christian Church where she was their full-time church secretary. After her husband passed away in 2003, Mary Jean continued to work at First Christian Church and retired in 2009 after 20 years of service.

Mary Jean enjoyed antiquing and collecting depression glass and anything we'd call vintage!   She had lovely collections of pretty glass items that lined the shelves in her home. Memories of simpler times brought her joy. She enjoyed shopping for her grandchildren and spending time with her family. Her favorite times were family gatherings at her house where the kids would be all together, sitting at the table cutting up or playing games and she would sit in the den and just soak it up – enjoying all the laughter and love filling her home.

Mary Jean and Kenneth were faithful, long-time members of Sharpstown Baptist Church; raising their children according to God's Word and then later, showing off the grandchildren, their love for the Lord and Mary Jean's servant heart was evident! Mary Jean's faith was quiet but solid and she prayed over her children and grandchildren through all of life's challenges, changes, and triumphs. She loved to sing hymns and had a sweet alto voice. Even in her final years, she could remember the words and sing along to her favorites.

Mary Jean leaves behind her sister Lenette Heideman; her three children, Laura Gaspard and her husband Troy, David Stitzlein and his wife Jennifer, Cheryl Graves and her husband Doug; her loving grandchildren Grace Henderson and her husband Christopher, Collin Tucker, Eli Graves and Analise Graves; and her step-grandchildren, Blake Gaspard and his wife Taylor, Mikayla Gaspard and Jesse Gaspard. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Teddy Kenneth Stitzlein, Jr. and her parents, A.B. and Pat Nelson.

The family would like to acknowledge Willow Fork and Aspire Home Hospice for their support and loving caregiving they provided Mary Jean.