Mary Catherine Wilson

MARY WILSON

April 14, 1931 –March 25, 2025

Awakened by an owl’s high-pitched hooting at the break of dawn, on the lovely spring morning of March 25, 2025, we got the news shortly after that my Nana, Mary Catherine “Young” Wilson, age ninety-three went to be with Jesus. With profound sadness, we announce that Heaven gained our angel here as she was reunited with her husband, “Buddy” and their son, my dad, Joe Jr. along with the rest of her loved ones awaiting her arrival. I can picture her knocking on Heaven’s door saying, “open, open, open” which is a memory of shopping with her at Mervyn’s back in the day! With the enchanting smell of Wisteria in the air, (interestingly enough that purple was her favorite color), birds singing their glorious songs, she passed peacefully in her sleep during her favorite time of day, where she had spent decades on her back patio sipping her cup of coffee. Mary was born in Waco, Texas on April 14, 1931 to Emmett Earl Young and Lizzie Marie “Stover” Young. She was one of seven children, five sisters plus her making six: Mickey, Mary, Claire, Helen, Pat and Linda and the oldest, their brother, Bill. She lived a full life with sixty years of marriage and over a decade of solitude coupled with quality time with family. In her late years, seventeen to be exact, she was an independent widow living with Dementia that took her down a path of remembering her youth and times she kept close to her heart. We learned what she yearned for, what was still bothering her and memories that stayed with her despite the storms of life. Beautiful visits at “The Atrium of Bellmead”, each unique and special, became part of our weekly routine and we’ll cherish them for a lifetime. Our Nana got nicknamed, “Ms. Hollywood” there, as she wouldn’t take off her thick black sunglasses in the building! Her charming ways captivated people and she was often complimented for being a “cutie.” She had the most baby blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Periodically, she would throw around this saying, “Age is just a number and mine’s unlisted.” We’d giggle and so would she. Around the corner, with her “94th” birthday approaching, we had plans to get dolled up with rouge and red lipstick, Easter dresses, new “beige” sandals she was requesting for me to shop for and she wanted some crispy beef tacos, her favorite food. Over the course of her life-time she attributed her youthful looks to being born of the “Young” family. It was our inside joke. In her youth, she was known to be sitting around the table with her “meek and mild” sisters chatting away. At the age of seventeen, August 14 1948, she married my Papa, Joe E. Wilson Sr. who swooned her with his chivalry! He was visiting in town from being in the service with the Navy. They met at the movie theater, where she worked at. He got in a fight over her for attention and never went back after falling in love at first sight. They took their vows at Turner Street Baptist Church. They spent many years living it up with “champagne toasts” with their lawyer friends and took trips together, even camping. Holidays at her house were always filled with laughter and love. For work thereafter, she spent many days at L.L Sam’s where they made church pews and furniture and later worked at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in food service, part-time. She had one child, a son, my dad, Joe. He brought them a lifetime of joy. One time they vacationed together driving the outline of the United States of America, one state after another. I heard that was a highlight of their life together. My brother, Johnie and I were the only grandchildren, and we have a number of second and third cousins that we spent many years celebrating life with, some consisted of barbecues and holiday get togethers at their house and relatives. My brother stated that our Nana made the best Mac n’ Cheese and Banana Pudding and that nobody’s has come close to hers. We spent our childhood growing up with her and my Papa taking us to town and shopping. I also remember that game shows and Soap Operas were always playing in the background on television during the day, and in the evening it was either western’s or Lifetime and they sat in their recliner’s eating together with TV trays. The time she spent with her great grandkids gave her days a bright light. Noah and Adah were born where the bulk of their memories were in her home, with birthday parties celebrated on her back patio. Her and Noah share a love for the piano. She played the Nursing Home’s piano a time or two and would listen to Noah and Holden play there. Adah recalls shared moments discussing a love for porcelain dolls and that Nana would always make her cinnamon toast. She would watch her color and draw while “PBS Kids” was on the television. When Holden came into the picture many memories consisted of dining out with her on “Taco Tuesday” and shopping afterwards. We did change it up several times to eat something else. My dad would pick us up and treated us to a family day. We would say we were driving “Ms. Mary” around and we did this for several years before she went to the nursing home. Her grandson, Evan came later in her life where they had quality time in her home as well with dinners and celebrations. She enjoyed watching him eat in the high chair in her kitchen and running around outside playing with Holden. By the time Maren was born, Nana Mary was in to the nursing home. Her eyes though would light up so bright when I would show her pictures and videos; I told her that the prefix of her name was just like Maren’s. I would let her thumb through my phone to see pictures of the kids and it would make her day so sweet and she would smile. Mary was a true beauty and had a heart for helping Veterans. Often, she was remarked as, sassy and stubborn, traits of the strong-willed. She loved dogs and cats. She left food out for the stray cats and it made her cackle to be a “Cat lady.” On Halloween, she bought her favorite candy to pass out to children knowing not many would stop by on her street, but she knew she’d have a stash for herself and her grandkids and that was the plan. She seemed to be quite the observer in a social setting, yet her ways were those of eloquence and poise. On various occasions; I’d see her wearing silk blouses and she loved to wear jewelry and perfume that my Papa gifted to her. She loved lace, shoes and pretty things. I always noticed on every visit to her home when she bought new decor. To her surprise, she was always astounded to learn that I noticed even the smallest changes. Staring in her mirror playing dress-up was a favorite past-time. Spaghetti night was always with a salad and a pizza. It was her way. I always made a pitcher of tea at her house and if she didn’t have any rolls before a meal, she’d send me to H-E-B down the street because we couldn’t have a meal she said without the bread and that’s how she grew up, with a basket on the table. One thing that really stands out to me is that she was quick to treat a bug bite or a gash. I can vividly picture the “pink stuff.” Her nurturing ways made sure we were always taken care of with extra care. Shopping trips always ended with a fashion show at her house and that was part of the deal; I had to model everything her and my Papa bought me. One time Johnie picked out some red “Justin” boots that didn’t even match his western shirt he also picked out in turquoise and magenta print. I couldn’t find anything I wanted in Lott, TX that day so she took me to Dillard’s and with my Papa’s okay, she bought me whatever I wanted. Over her lifespan when the shopping days dwindled down that’s when I knew her health was declining. Those days really were the best and sometimes I’d get to stay the night and be treated with a home cooked breakfast. In her last years, we really got to see a new side of her, a personality that found its way out easier than before. We never knew what the visit would be like, but I made the most of them and if she was up for it we went to the courtyard to talk. One visit she said, “Do those jeans really have holes in them?” Her Dementia was taking her back to the time when that would’ve been atrocious to have a rip in your clothes. Oh, the conversations that were never short of being diluted! I almost forgot, it tickles me to mention that her laugh was therapeutic because she snorted and it was so cute! We would keep making her laugh so that we’d hear it again. My last visit with her I’ll always cherish that my spirit compelled me to kiss her forehead and paint her nails, though sadly I didn’t have red which she wanted, but I was able to borrow a bottle of a purple hue from one of the nurses. She stared into my eyes for the longest time that day. Looking back at the photo, it’s as if she knew her time was coming and I can see goodbye in her eyes. Before her passing she stated how much she missed my Papa and said it with so much sincerity and longing. To wrap this up; I’d like to share that she was a woman of quiet composure and when she gave a gift it had to have a red bow and I think that’s so heart-warming! It’s my prayer that she will live on throughout the lives of her family. I always thought she carried herself like a Princess and it’s with that thought I want everyone to remember her as a wise and graceful woman. Survivors include, daughter-n-law, Pamela Kay “Anderson” Wilson from Chalk Bluff, TX, granddaughter, Miss Amy Jo Wilson from Waco, TX and her children: Noah Andrew Sosolik, Adah Brooke Sosolik, Holden Ace Koch, grandson, Johnie Drew Wilson and his wife, Natalie Clarisse “McCormick” Wilson from Lacy Lakeview, TX and their children: Evan Grant Wilson and Maren Elisse Wilson. She has one remaining sister from Spring Branch, TX, Mrs. Linda “Young” Sutton and her husband and her Sister-n-law, widow, Ms. Winifred “Wilson” Davis from Conroe, TX. There are numerous living nieces, nephews and cousins that will miss her dearly. Her friends went before her and now they’re all together! There will be a private graveside service at “Rosemound Cemetery” that will be held in her honor for close friends and family. Services are pending. The Wilson family would like to give a special thanks to “The Atrium of Bellmead” for their care and attention to Mary and to Providence Hospice for directing the comfort she needed in the end of her life. Her wisdom I believe will help future generations through her favorite saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” She would say it with so much sass too! Throughout the day of her passing she celebrated life free of pain in Heaven. Mesmerized by the Wisteria and the storybook feeling I had walking barefoot around her yard; I felt her send me this song wrapped in her emotions. I got chills from the divine. Spiritually; I felt it as a download that came with comfort. The song was, “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. The lyrics start out, “Birds flying high, you know how I feel Sun in the sky, you know how I feel Breeze driftin’ on by, you know how I feel It’s a new dawn It’s a new day It’s a new life for me, yeah It’s a new dawn It’s a new day It’s a new life for me, ooh And I’m feeling good”… … It’s a new dawn and new day for Mary in Heaven. Although death leaves us feeling a sense of being lost, we must all remember that it’s a glorious experience for our loved ones as they meet the afterlife. Our journey is to be love and honor the best in each other, allowing the beautiful moments to shine through the impact of our lives. Written by Mary’s granddaughter, Miss Amy Jo Wilson