Mary Carolyn Gregory, 77, of Quinlan, Texas passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 9 in Plano, Texas.
Mary was an amazing, determined woman. She started her own business at 34 years old while raising 5 children as a divorced, single mom. In her late 40s, she married Jerry Dean Gregory and inherited 3 more wonderful children, their spouses, and grandchildren. Together for 27 years, Mary and Jerry embarked on many entrepreneurial adventures.
A beloved sister, wife, aunt, mother and grandmother, Mary was preceded in death by her mother and father, Edward and Martha Elrod, her sister, Elizabeth Smith, and her husband, Jerry Gregory.
Mary is survived by her brother, EJ Elrod, Jr., brother-in-law Leeman Smith, his children and their spouses, and her 5 children, their spouses and their children: Del & Iryna Forbes and their daughter; Chris & Angela Forbes and their daughters; Jimi & Jeff Bratt and their children; Billy & Laura Forbes and their sons; and Mari “Lissa” Duty and her daughter. Mary’s memory will live on through the Gregory family with their children Rick & Ann Gregory, Lacinda Gregory, and Jerry Merle Gregory; her brothers-in-law Ed Gregory and Dick Gregory; sister-in-law Kay Whitfield, and their spouses and children.
Mary touched many lives in her 77 years on earth, and her memory will last for generations to come with her nieces, nephews, grandchildren & great-grandchildren, and their spouses-to-be.
Visitation will be Wednesday, November 13 at Lynch Funeral Home in Greenville, Texas, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The graveside service is at Crescent Cemetery in Crescent, Oklahoma on Thursday, November 14 (10:30 am). A memorial service will be held at Mineral Heights Baptist Church in Greenville on Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 pm.
One of Mary’s last entrepreneurial projects was raising money to help daughter-in-law Laura Forbes, who is living with advanced MS. For those wishing to send a sympathy offering of flowers, your favorite chocolate, or a donation towards the purchase of a motorized stand-up wheelchair for Laura, thank you – all is appreciated. Donations can be passed to Del Forbes or via GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/mom039s-last-favor.
