Mary Sue del Llano

Mary Sue del Llano, 88, of Midland, Texas, faithfully met her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 10, 2025. She fought hard for several weeks with multiple illnesses, and she passed away in her home surrounded by her loving family. Mary Sue’s celebration of life will be held on Saturday April 26, 2025, at 2:30pm in the Chapel at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, 3800 N Big Spring St, Midland, Texas 79705.

Mary Sue was born on March 17, 1937, to Carl and Alice Croll in Franklin, Ohio. She attended Franklin High School and lived her high school years with her Aunt Mary and helped her in her Flower Shop. Mary Sue and her father loved to go out on the water where she was a natural on the water skis. She won the Ladies Championship twice in water skiing in the Miami Valley Boat Club Regatta, and ruled as queen of the show in 1955. She graduated Valedictorian in 1955. After high school, she attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and later Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She later moved to the Washington DC area and worked as a Legal Secretary and an Administrative Assistant to the Procurement Officer of the DC Government. On a trip with some girlfriends to watch a little league baseball game, she first laid eyes on Ramon del Llano, one of the coaches of the team, and a Spec 5 in the U.S. Army. They quickly fell in love. They were married on April 11, 1964, in the DC area and moved to Roswell, New Mexico in 1965. In 1970 they were transferred by ARCO Oil & Gas to Midland, where she raised her family and later earned an Associate’s Business Degree at Midland College at the age of 50. She earned the degree of a Certified Professional Secretary which she used at Santa Fe Pipeline, and was a Joint Operations Assistant at Meridian Oil.

Mary Sue was a very caring and loving servant, with an overwhelming desire to meet the needs of church and community. Her retirement years allowed her the opportunity to fulfill that desire. Those services included: Sunday School teacher for more than 20 years, a Vacation Bible School teacher, Hospitality Committee member, served Homebound Communion and delivered flowers to homebound, Walk to Emmaus, United Methodist Women Retreats, and many more commitments, at both St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and First Methodist Church;  Meals on Wheels; Midland Quilters Guild; Volunteer Coordinator at Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau; both a Docent to school field trip and out-of-town visitors, and a member of the Santa Rita Club at the Petroleum Museum; District 10 Community Coordinator of the local chapter of AARP, overseeing 5 other local chapters; Tutor to children of mothers seeking shelter at Safe Place in Midland; assisted with the CSS Community-wide Garage Sale; and volunteered with the Museum of the Southwest. Her service was recognized and honored with the Volunteer of the Year at Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2004, The United States President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2019, and received a distinguished award for 20 years of volunteer service with the Midland RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) in 2019.

Mary Sue was a safe haven for many children during the time she was raising her own, and she lovingly cared for many family elders at the end of their lives. She was an avid animal lover and stewarded many through a happy life. She continued her education with Midland College Classics courses. She enjoyed years of fun and fellowship at COM Aquatics in her water aerobics classes up until her final weeks. If you have ever received a letter or any type of correspondence from Mary Sue, you know that it was signed or stamped with her infamous maxim:  “In God We Trust”.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ramon del Llano of Midland; daughter River (formerly Ann) del Llano of Austin; daughter Debbie (Andres) Stewart of Albuquerque, and grandchildren, Olivia (Matt) of San Diego, Elena and Andres Ramon of Albuquerque; daughter Marcia (Brent) Crowder, and grandchildren Levi and Sierra of Midland; also by her brother Don (Anna) Croll of Virginia, brother Ken (Pat) Croll of Ohio, and sister-in-law Peggy Croll of Arizona, and multiple nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Bobby Croll.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to COM Aquatics, Meals on Wheels, AMOS, or a charity of your choice in honor of Mary Sue.

Online condolences can be made at https://npwelch.com/obituary/mary-sue-del-llano
Live Streaming of the Service will be available on www.npwelch.com.

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