Mary Gradel White, age 91, passed away at her home in Kingwood on January 5, 2018, surrounded by family. Mary was born on November 11, 1926, to Anthony “Tony” and Annie Gradel in Waco, Texas. One of nine children, Mary grew up in a rural area of Waco during the depression. She never wanted to for anything, however, content to simply play games with her many siblings. Mary graduated from La Vega High School in 1944, and began her career in Waco, working as a legal secretary. Shortly thereafter, she moved to the big city of Dallas, where she eventually met her future husband, Terry White, through a dinner set-up secretly arranged by friends. Mary and Terry were married on June 17, 1961.
Mary and Terry moved to the Houston area soon thereafter so Terry could pursue his career at the newly dedicated NASA Johnson Space Center. Throughout her career, and while raising her two children, Mary worked for several law firms, for Texas International Airlines (which became part of Continental Airlines), and retired in 1987 from Boeing. Following retirement, Mary and Terry moved to Durango, Colorado, where they embarked on their dream of living in the mountains.
And live they did. They never passed up an opportunity to hike, bike, go four-wheeling on treacherous mountain roads, ride horses, cross country ski, and share dinner with their many friends. Mary also devoted her time to serving those less fortunate at the local soup kitchen. After Terry’s death in 1993, Mary moved to New Braunfels for several years and then to Kingwood. During that time, Mary developed a love for bridge, playing with several groups over the years. She was a member of St. Martha Catholic Church in Kingwood.
Mary is survived by her two children, Robert and Kathleen; three grandchildren, Braden, Madeleine, and Charlotte; and her younger brother, Roy Gradel, of San Antonio. Mary’s family would like to give special thanks to Right at Home—Kingwood and, in particular, Sandra and Maria, and also to Memorial Hermann Hospice and their wonderful staff.
Memorial Service: A Memorial Service was held on 2018-01-20 at Darst Funeral Home.
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