Mary Small

Mary Lee Small, 83, of Waco, formerly of Moody, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, November 21, 2016 at her daughter's home in Waco, TX surrounded by her loved ones. A private family memorial service to honor her life will be at a later date with Reverend Don Meadors officiating.

Mary Lee was born November 25, 1932 in Sylvania, OH to John Allison Russell and Wilda Barbarick Russell. She married Lawrence P. (Larry) Small Sr. on June 14, 1953 in Toledo, OH. She was a Baptist. Mary Lee was a 1950 graduate of Burnham High School in Sylvania, OH. She and her husband Larry lived in Flint, MI from the time of their marriage to the time they moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1960 and then to Moody, TX in 1968. She was a homemaker most of her life but worked for a short time as a seamstress for Wallace Manufacturing Company in Moody and as a cashier for Tennihill's Grocery in Moody. She was a very accomplished seamstress and sewed for the public out of her home for many years. Many green and gold cheerleader and pep squad uniforms proudly worn by Moody ISD students were created in her sewing room and she loved the visits with her clients as much as she loved sewing for them. Mary Lee was devoted to her family and to serving others all of her life. When her failing eyesight forced her to give up sewing, she ran the Meals on Wheels Program for the Moody area for several years. Unable to drive, she walked to deliver meals to recipients living near her and recruited delivery drivers for recipients that lived farther away or in the country. Her greatest talent was to make everyone she knew feel loved. Her sweet voice, timid smile and loving nature will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband , her parents, an infant son; Kevin Leroy Small, sister, Bridget Brumley, brothers; Scott Russell and Tom Russell.

She is survived by two sons, Lawrence ( Larry) Small Jr. and wife Joanna of Waco, TX, Noel Small and wife, Teresa (Terri) of Valley Mills, TX; five daughters; Lauralee Jenkins and husband, Robert (Bud) of Gatesville, TX, Lula Cobb of Waco, TX, Penny Moore and husband, Larry of Milford, TX, Kimberly Small and devoted friend, Donnie Frix of Lebanon, TN, Colleen McKenzie and husband Lonnie of Belton, TX, sister; Betty Jo Miley and husband Mike of Sylvania, OH, sister in law; Janice Russell of Clinton, OH, brother in law; James Brumley of Moody, TX, 20 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and her beloved Chihuahua, Jake.

In Lieu of usual remembrances may be made to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 85 Waco, TX 76703 and/or The Seeing Eye, P.O. Box 375 Morristown, NJ 07963-0375