Mary Emma Pullen would boast she is 95 years young. Still as pretty as the day our Dad married her.
Mary born January 2, 1926 was the only daughter of prominent Rockwall County Cotton parents, Georgia Emma and John Harrison Crenshaw. After high school graduation from Royse City High School in 1944, Mary moved to Dallas to be a small town girl in a big city atmosphere! Mary married her high school sweetheart, Rayford Edison Pullen, Sr June 15, 1945 during World War ll joining the ranks of a “War Bride”. Mary said she was attracted to a man in uniform! A marriage that would survive for almost 60 years until the rancher’s wife husband Rayford passed away April 30, 2004.
Mary never strayed too far from the “black gumbo” soil of Northeast Texas from farmer’s daughter to rancher’s wife. Mary was a stay-at-home MOM working along Rayford’s side as a bookkeeper for a successful family concrete business in Greenville to that extra ranch hand needed during cattle feeding and round-ups north of Honey Grove. She was that typical and dutiful wife of the ’40s.
Mary considered her motherhood a success with four untamed Texas children Jenny, Judy, Rayford, Jr and John Henry by her first husband and only…as our late Dad always exclaimed! Mary’s goal was for all of her children be college-educated (a goal neither she nor our Dad achieved). Mary called this her insurance policies.
Mary was a very religious Baptist woman. She taught Sunday School for over 40 years, twenty at Old Concord Baptist Church, and read her Bible daily. She had a glow that was shared with the world…the light of a giving and loving Mother…thinking only about the welfare of her children. Oh, by the way, Mary purchased her first new car in 2007 all by herself!
Mary adopted her Mother’s attitude toward housework early in her marriage…it was going to be here when she is dead and gone!
Mary is survived by Jenny Jones, Las Vegas, Nevada, Judy Rhodes, Dallas, Rayford and Carla Sue Pullen, Bowie and John Henry and Kathey Pullen, Commerce. 7 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death husband Rayford E. Pullen, Sr, son-n-law Sam F Rhodes, parents Emma and John Crenshaw, brothers John Howell l, George Harrison and sister-in-law Marie Crenshaw
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to make donations to Old Concord Baptist Church, Greenville, Texas
Funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Dr. Dewey Davidson officiating. Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m. until service time.
Pallbearers will be John Clay Pullen, Jacob Pullen, Jason Jones, Kevin Pullen, Harrison Rhodes and Danny Scott. Honorary pallbearers will be Wes Crenshaw, Danny Crenshaw, Donald Crenshaw, David Crenshaw, Les Moss and Dennis Shoemaker.
Reception to follow at 5:00 p.m. at Occasions at Stone River, 1250 FM 2453, Royse City, TX 75189 immediately following interment at Royse City Cemetery.
