Mary Alice (Holtz) Brown, 82, died April 6, 2016

Mary Alice (Holtz) Brown passed away April 6, 2016, in San Angelo, Texas, at the age of 82. She was born Dec. 10, 1933, at 9:10 a.m. in the family home in Coleman, Texas, to John William Holtz and Amanda Elizabeth (Tomlinson) Holtz.

She lost her father to stomach cancer when she was 7, a loss that would remain with her all her life.

Mary and Howard Austin Burroughs were married on July 9, 1949, at the Coleman home of her brother John and wife Dorcia between her freshman and sophomore year in high school. As a young couple, they moved several times, including living in a railroad bunkhouse, a college apartment and the maid’s quarters for a mayor in a north Central Texas town.

Though Mary lost numerous babies through miscarriages, she had three children who survived. They are Linda Sue (born 8/9/1950), Jerry Wayne (born 9/17/1952) and Michael Howard (born 5/31/1955). All were born in Coleman, a town where her family lived many years and still do to this day. Her life was one of many ups and down but never was there a doubt she loved her children more than anything. She also had a love for her cats.

Mary and Harry raised their three babies in the Church of Christ but sadly divorced after a few short years. Life would find them making up shortly before his death on Oct. 22, 1973. She later shared that they agreed they had done three things right.

She was a true survivor of many events in her life. With her faith in God, she overcame many different sadnesses, including 25-plus years with the chronic and progressive disease of Parkinson’s. She found joy in different avenues, including sewing, creating clothing for her children and eventually her grandchildren (even making a prom dress) and gardening. It was not uncommon to find her working in the yard from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on her days off, and she often held two jobs at a time. She was no stranger to hard work.

Mary lived the majority of her adult life in Houston, where she and Howard attended Montrose Church of Christ, but she loved living in Llano and the country life in Rio Llano. She attended worship services at Llano Church of Christ.

She is survived by sons, Jerry Burroughs and David of Dallas and Michael Burroughs and Mark of Austin; daughter, Linda Groff and Warren of Llano; brothers John Holtz II and Dorcia of Coleman, Olen Holtz and Nita of Abilene and Robert Holtz and Lynna of San Angelo; sisters Dorothy Yates of Pensacola, Florida, Fay Hall of Apalachin, New York, Mae White of Eastland and Patricia Burnett and Kenneth of Eastland; grandchildren Matt and Christi Groff, Amy Burroughs and Mark Hostetter, Mary Jeffreys and Kris, and Stephen Burroughs and Amanda; great-grandchildren Mariah, Haley, Hannah, Faith, Austin, Brooke, Luke, Morgen and baby girl Burroughs due in June 2016; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends. Mary is also survived by longtime friend Jaime Castaneda, Mr. and Mrs. Manny Martinez and Mr. and Mrs. John Harlow.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; father of her children, Howard Austin Burroughs; sisters Hazel Field, Helen Holtz and Grace Griffin; and her special friend Don Banks.

Visitation is 5-6 p.m. April 10 at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano, (325) 247-4300. A funeral service is 10 a.m. April 11 at the funeral home with David Hankins, preacher of the Church of Christ in Llano, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Church of Christ of your choice, your local cancer society or a charity of your choice.

Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net with condolences.