Mary Caroline Barr Wills passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the age of 81 at Helen Greathouse Manor, Assisted Living in Midland, Texas. Mary was born in Springhill, Louisiana, on September 10, 1944, to Robert Everett Barr and Annie Louise Broome Barr. She graduated from high school in Springhill and then attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was a Pi Phi alumna, initiated into Pi Beta Phi in 1963 at LSU. She participated in the 1965 Ms. Springhill pageant. After graduating she worked in banking and loved to travel, especially outside of the country.
She married Harold Wills on Memorial Day 1985 and they lived in Dallas, Texas until he was transferred to Franklin, Massachusetts, in 1991. They lived in Upton, Massachusetts, and she went to work for ACI Worldwide as a Senior Solution Architect, supporting banks with their wire transfer systems.
They eventually moved back to Texas in April 2005. They built a home in Stone Ridge in Fredericksburg, Texas where Mary continued to work for ACI Worldwide remotely from home until she retired from the company on December 31, 2015. Fredericksburg was a blessing to them where they made many friends and enjoyed their life there.
Mary moved to Midland, Texas in March 2024, to live at Helen Greathouse Manor, Assisted Living. This allowed her to be closer to her stepdaughter and family to help with her care. She missed her friends in Fredericksburg but Sophie, her dog, helped with the transition. She never passed up an opportunity to stop, no matter where she was, and show affection to any dog she saw.
She is survived by two stepdaughters and spouses, Angie and Mark Walker of Midland, Texas, and Shay and Kevin Sanders of Midlothian, Texas; six step grandchildren and spouses, Martin and Katie Phiffer of Midland, Texas, Gracesyn and Cody Ware, Hadyn and Jaylee Weaver of Burleson, Texas, Paxtyn Wills of Midlothian, Texas, Sydni Walker of Midland, Texas and Jaymi Walker of Lubbock, Texas; six step great grandsons; niece, Jessamyn Caroline Stidham of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; nephew and spouse, Robert and Tracee Dean of Edgewood, Texas; great niece, Caroline Stidham and great nephew, Jackson Stidham of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
A Celebration of Life will be held later in Fredericksburg, Texas. A graveside service will be held later at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo, Texas with family.
The family would like to thank all her wonderful friends in Fredericksburg and beyond, the staff at Helen Greathouse Manor, Home Hospice and Faithful Journey. The excellent care Mary received would not have been possible without your help. We ask that memorials be given in her memory to Helen Greathouse Manor (The Village at Manor Park) in Midland, Texas, Alzheimer’s Association (West Texas Chapter), Home Hospice in Midland, Texas or a charity of one’s choice.
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