Mary Lou Wilson

Mary Lou Wilson, 92, of Midland, TX, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, March 26, 2021 surrounded by her family in her home. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 6:00PM-8:00PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.  The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 11:30AM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel with Josh Gatewood of Stonegate Fellowship officiating. Interment will be at Resthaven Cemetery with a reception to follow at The Branch at Nalley-Pickle & Welch.  The funeral service will be live streamed at npwelch.com/livestreaming.

Mary Lou was born on July 2, 1928 to Forest and Glen Evans in Columbus, Ohio.

After graduation from high school, she attended Ohio State University and worked in the Ohio State University library.  She met the love of her life, Mark Dale Wilson, when he rented a room in her parents’ home while he was in the Navy and attended Ohio State University during World War ll. They married on September 18, 1949, in Columbus, Ohio.  On January 9, 1950, Mary Lou and Mark moved 2000 miles away to Midland, TX where Mark worked for Shell Oil as an Exploration Geologist for three years.  During their time in Midland, they welcomed their first three children, Scott Evans Wilson, on August 12, 1950; Todd Montgomery Wilson, on October 7, 1951; and Holly Lynn Wilson on September 16, 1952.  Having three babies in three years, Mary Lou always said she had Holly on her hip, Todd holding her hand, and Scott holding onto her skirt tail!

In 1953, Shell transferred Mark and Mary Lou and their family to Roswell, NM where he worked as a District Geologist.  They lived in Roswell for eight years and welcomed their fourth child, Heather Gwen Wilson, on April 3, 1957.  She was known as “tail-end Charlie”! From 1961-1963, Shell transferred them back to Midland, TX.  In 1963, Mark resigned from Shell and moved his family to Artesia, NM where he worked as an independent Geologist and had a close association with Yates Petroleum Corporation.  Mary Lou worked as a legal secretary for Losee Carson & Haas Law Firm for seven years helping Mark while he went independent.  In 1970, Mary Lou was able to quit her job as a legal secretary and be a stay-at-home mom and housewife.

In 1976, Mark started a family oil and gas corporation, Rio Pecos, and eventually employed three of his children, Scott, Todd and Heather and his son-in-law, Roger Elliott. Mary Lou and Mark and their family were members of First Presbyterian Church in Artesia, NM for 19 years and they were also members of Memorial Christian Church in Midland and First Presbyterian Church in Midland.

Mary Lou and Mark were devout Christians and made sure that all four children were in church every Sunday possible!  They were married for 63 years and gave their children a firm foundation to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Mary Lou was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  God blessed her with four beautiful children and their spouses, 10 beautiful grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 beautiful great grandchildren and a beautiful niece and two nephews and their spouses! (they called her Aunt Lulu!) She was lovingly known as “Two-Mommies” to all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and just about everyone else too!  “Two Mommies” will always be remembered for one of her favorite sayings, ”every kick’s a boost,” when something challenging happens!  In other words, “something good will always come out of our hardships”! (Romans 8:28)

Mary Lou truly loved watching her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in their dance recitals, twirling competitions & performances, baseball & football games, piano & voice recitals, musicals, band performances and competitions, swim meets, and fiddle and singing gigs!  She and Mark were very proud of all of them!

Mary Lou served as president of Geowives (PBGGA), Landwives (PBLA) and Green Tree Country Club Ladies Association.  She was also a member of PEO, Garden Club, and Republican Women.  She loved spending time with her family and friends!

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Cindy Wilson, of Austin, and her three children Ryan Wilson and his wife Robyn Wilson of Telluride, Colorado; Shelby Wilson Stratmann and her husband Kai Stratmann and their children Tyler Stratmann and Emma Stratmann of Houston;  Garrett Wilson and his wife Liz Wilson and their son Robert Wilson of Austin; Todd Montgomery Wilson and his wife Carol Wilson and their son Colton Wilson and his wife Kim Wilson and their children Lyla Wilson and Conor Wilson of Kirkland, Washington; Holly Wilson Elliot Smith and her husband Randy Smith of Midland and her children Carson Elliott and his son, Theo Elliott of Santa Fe, NM; Forest Elliott Wallace and her husband, Mike Wallace and their children Lynnley Wallace and Laney Wallace of Midland; Cody Elliott and his wife Lacy Elliott and their children Parker Elliott and Thomas Elliott of Lubbock, TX; and Heather Wilson Echols and her husband John Echols and their children Tarabeth Echols Gertsch and her husband Michael Gertsch and their children Locklin Gertsch and Lennon Gertsch of Leander, TX; John-Mark Echols and his wife Briana Echols and their children Truma Echols, Titus Echols and Mercy Echols of Midland; and Wilson Echols and his wife Misti Echols and their daughter Eleanor Echols of Austin, TX. She is also survived by her niece, Lexie Lyon Voegele and her husband Deron Voegele of Columbus, Ohio.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Mark Dale Wilson of Midland, her son, Scott Evans Wilson of Austin, and her son-in-law, Roger Thomas Elliott of Midland.

Pallbearers will be: John Echols, John-Mark Echols, Cody Elliott, Michael Gertsch, Mike Wallace and Randy Smith. Honorary Pallbearers are Wilson Echols, Carson Elliott, Colton Wilson, Garrett Wilson and Ryan Wilson.

A special thank you to Mary Lou’s caregivers who were like special Angels that selflessly gave her the best, most loving 24 hour care: Leslie Alvarado, Eunice Davila, Debbie Torres and Faith Furusa.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Midland, 911 W Texas Avenue, Midland, TX 79701.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.