Mary Brandon

God always picks the most beautiful flowers for His Heavenly Garden and on December 8, 2017, he chose Mary Ann Burt Brandon after a sudden illness.

Survivors include her loving husband, Johnnie Brandon of Wildwood; her adored daughters, Suzanne Crim and her husband, Steve, of Whitehouse, and Gina Lynn Cryer of Wildwood; grandchildren, Brandon Crim and his wife, Lauren, of Live Oak; Casey Crim and his wife, Jessica, and Colby Crim, all of Whitehouse; Calvin M. Cryer, III of Hardin; Missy Ballard of Evadale; Melanie Jones and her husband, Steve, of Granbury; and Megan Mayeux of Coal Hill, Arkansas; great-grandchildren, Keaton Crim, Kennedy Crim, Georgia Crim, and numerous other great-grandchildren; brother, Charles Burt of Henderson; sister, Matt Gabriel of Henderson; numerous nieces and nephews; and her lil’ grand fur babies, Baylor and Gracie. She is preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Calvin Cryer, Jr.; granddaughter, Melinda DeGregory; and siblings, Maxie Burt, Becky King, and Jimmy Burt.

Mary was born on July 23, 1933, in Henderson, to Ellie Mae Burns Burt and O.F. Burt. She was raised with two brothers and three sisters in a loving Christian home.   Her caring nature and strong relationship with her brothers and sisters continued throughout her life. Those who were not family members also benefited from her genuine warmth and were always greeted with her beautiful smile and a huge hug; she never met a stranger.

Growing up in Henderson and living next door to the Eastside Baptist Church, fortified her strong Christian beliefs which she maintained all her remaining years. Mary graduated from Henderson High School in 1951 and began working at Beall’s Department Store. She was later hired by Southwestern States Telephone Company as a Switchboard Operator.

In November 1952 she accepted a blind date with a gentleman who was temporarily working at the phone company, and on October 9, 1954, she married Johnnie Brandon, her lifelong love of sixty-three years and two months. This union ended her working status as she moved around Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma as she stayed by Johnnie’s side. Both their daughters were born in Henderson.

In 1967, Johnnie was working in a little community north of Beaumont laying phone lines. He obviously loved the area, and the couple moved their family in October 1969 to Wildwood. While the girls were young, Mary and the girls joined Johnnie in the summers wherever he was working at the time, Alaska and Columbia, South America to name a couple. After raising their daughters, Mary once again hit the road and started traveling with Johnnie.

Mary was a faithful member of the Wildwood Baptist Church and was especially active as a member of the Ruth Sunday School Class. Known as an avid shopper, she frequented her favorite Dillard’s often. Mary took great pride in her appearance and was at the local beauty shop every Thursday. She loved simple things like sitting outside by the pool watching the golfers and enjoying God’s beautiful landscape and taking in Wildwood’s beauty, Fur Baby Gracie could often be found snuggling with her MiMi under the warm covers.

A gathering of Mary Ann Brandon’s family and friends will begin at 9:00 a.m., with her service at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at Wildwood Baptist Church, 100 Wildwood Drive, Village Mills, under the direction of Broussard’s, Silsbee. Officiating will be Brother Don Mitchell and Brother Jimmy Linn. Her graveside service will follow at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery in Henderson, with Mary’s nephew, Reverend Jared Burt officiating.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that anyone wishing to make a memorial in Mary’s memory, do so at the following: Don Allen Sport’s Day, P. O. Box 723, Village Mills, Texas 77663; Wildwood Baptist Church “Renovation of the Auditorium”, P. O. Box 729, Village Mills, Texas 77663; or The Wildwood Fire Department, P. O. Box 172, Village Mills, Texas 77663.