Mary Nell Wortham

Mary Nell Wortham passed away September 30, 2022.  A small graveside service will be held at the Bosqueville Cemetery on Monday November 21 at 11:00 AM.
Mary Nell was born in Waco on October 21, 1933 to parents Lennox E. Wortham and Annie Ruth Mitchiner Wortham. She had one sister Martha Ann Wortham Montgomery. All preceded her in death.
She is survived by two daughters,  Susan Griffin Jayroe and husband David, Marijohn (Mj) Griffin, along with two grandchildren who she loved and adored, Marissa Jayroe Cox and husband Ryan, Landon Jayroe and several nieces and nephews.
She was raised in Bosqueville and lived there until she graduated from high school where she met the father of her two beloved daughters. They were married for 35 years. While their relationship was not ideal she always said the result of the marriage was worth the pain.
She then married Charley Barlow who she said was her childhood sweetheart. They traveled all over the United States and Canada in their motorhome. She loved every second of it! They shopped lots of antique shows and flea markets.  She became an avid collector of antique dishes and became quite knowledgeable of them. They traveled all over the country collecting things they didn’t need but had great fun doing so.
She graduated from Waco High School and 4-C College. She was a secretary for many years at Washington National Insurance, Monroe Calculator, and then retired from the Masonic Grand Chapter after 28 years.
She enjoyed spending time with her daughters shopping on Saturdays. Mary Nell loved to shop. She was probably known by every salesperson in town before her illness. She loved genealogy and sharing family history with her daughters, grandkids, nieces and nephews. She loved telling her grandkids stories of growing up in Bosqueville in the 30’s and 40’s. She loved the Texas countryside especially during bluebonnet season. She loved reading, embroidery, sewing and crocheted dozens of afghans over the years. She was also a wonderful artist and painter and loved nothing more than redoing an antique find she bought.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012 and fought a very long, hard 10 year battle before her death. No one could of tried harder to fight such a horrible illness. She gave it everything she had and then some.
Her family would like to thank Baylor Scott & White Hospice for over 6 years of exceptional care along with the nurses and CNA’s in the Oak Unit at Wesley Woods where she spent the last 8 years of her life. Everyone there loved “Miss Mary”.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in her name so we can find a cure for this horrible illness so no family ever has to go through the cruelty of Alzheimer’s again.
Mary Nell was the best friend, mother and grandmother anyone could ask for. She was dearly loved by her daughters and grandkids and will be missed more than words can say.

Registry for Mary Wortham