Mary Evelyn McDuffie

Mary Evelyn McDuffie passed into the arms of the Lord on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at Colonial Nursing & Rehab in Bay City, Texas, she was 85.  Mary was born on September 22, 1937 in Durant, Oklahoma to the late Francis Schults and Saunie Ray Dirickson.

Mary grew up in Oklahoma until her family moved to the Houston area of Texas.  Mary worked as a waitress in her mother’s luncheonette as a teenager, and it is here where she met and fell in love with L.B. Welch.  The two were married in August of 1953.  Together they raised a family.  They were happily married for 33 years until the time of L.B.’s passing on August 28, 1988.  Mary’s family will fondly remember her for her love of quilting.  She even won awards for her quilting, but would never accept any money for her quilts, even when approached after she won first place with a quilt and offered $500 cash.  She simply stated, “That’s not why I do it, I do it to give to those I care about.”  Mary also worked for many years as a Sunday school teacher in Hearne, Texas for many years teaching the children.  When Mary was asked by folks how long she has lived in Texas, she would always say, “I got here as soon as I could.”

Mary is survived by her daughters Sheila Anderson (the late Ronald) of Sweeny and Amy Wallis (Keith) of Pearland.  She also is survived by her grandchildren Holly, Michael and 8 great-grandchildren.  Besides her husband and parents, she is also preceded in death by her son Steven Welch.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Thursday, June 8^th at C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, 634 S. Columbia Dr., West Columbia from 5:00-7:00 P.M.  Religious service will be held on Friday, June 9^th at The First Baptist Church of West Columbia at 10:00 A.M.  Interment will be held on Saturday, June 10^th, 11:00 A.M. at the Ft. Parker Memorial Cemetery in Groesbeck, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of the following charities:

Alzheimer’s Association of Houston  https://www.alz.org/texas?form=alz_donate

1^st Baptist Church of West Columbia  www.chariotsofmercy.org