Mary Louise Maness passed away peacefully at her home in McKinney, Texas, on March 20, 2012. She was born to Mary Lowman Frazier and Dr. Shervert Hughes Frazier, Sr. in Homer, Louisiana on November 11, 1922.
Mary spent most of her youth in Fort Worth, Texas until her father, a Baptist Minister, moved the family to Harrisburg, Illinois in 1937. She graduated from Harrisburg Township High School and spent her first two years of college at the College of Marshall, in Marshall, Texas. She finished her undergraduate work at the University of Southern Illinois in Harrisburg. She then attended nursing school at Vanderbilt University where she met the love of her life E. Stewart Maness, a young medical student from Neosho, Missouri. They were married July 4, 1948 and moved to New York City where she was Chief Surgical Nurse, and he was chief Resident at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. They eventually settled in Lincoln, Nebraska where Stewart set up his medical practice and she became active in the community.
She had a keen interest in art, painting for a time herself. Mary was named to the University of Nebraska’s Sheldon Art Gallery Board, a position she held for many years. She was active in the Medical Auxiliary in Lincoln and served as President. She was an avid golfer, even winning the 9-Hole club championship at the Lincoln Country Club. Mary was an excellent bridge player earning masters points, and participating in numerous bridge clubs throughout her life. She was still participating in two bridge clubs as recently as early 2012.
Mary is survived by her daughter Deborah, her son Mark, his wife Kelley, and her grandchildren Aubree and William all of McKinney, Texas, her brother Dr. S. H. Frazier Jr. of Concord, Massachusetts, his children Elise, Roselie, and Steven, and her deceased brother James Lowman Frazier’s wife Carla, their daughter Connie, and Carla’s son Grant Cape.
She was a loving wife and mother with a zest for life and travel. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 26, 2012, at First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas with Dr. Tommy Brumett officiating.