Mary Alice Harmon Schlapkohl

Mary Alice Harmon Schlapkohl, 88, of Houston, passed from this temporary life into the eternal presence of our Lord Jesus on Monday, August 17, 2020 in Waco.

Graveside Service: 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Houston where she will be interred alongside her beloved husband, Albert James “AJ” Schlapkohl.

Mary was born to Leona Faye Teague Harmon and David Reeves Harmon on March 28, 1932. She grew up on the move, her father having been a minister who held several pastorates as she grew up.

She accepted Jesus as her Savior at an early age. Mary loved music and expressed her Christian faith through song and music. She played piano from childhood and sang solo, trio, quartet and choir music with great joy her whole life. She graduated from Brownwood High School in 1949. Mary was a fun-loving optimistic, personality with a quick, casual wit that kept life enthusiastic and positive.

After high school, she moved to Houston with her family and began work at Houston Lighting and Power. She envisioned and helped establish the Houston Working Girl’s Club, of which she was elected President. Among other things, she and a couple of associates won a week long vacation to Cuba, before the days of Marxism there.

The original Evangelistic Temple in Houston was Mary’s home church where she met and married the love of her life, Albert James “AJ” Schlapkohl, her husband of 32 years. Together they developed a food services business. Sadly, AJ became ill and passed away in 1987 leaving Mary to manage the do-nut shop alone. Fortunately, her nephew, Tim, managed the shop which he and Mary continued to operate up to the time of her passing. Tim continues to do business at the original Shipley Do-Nuts Shop on North Main Street in Houston to this day.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, AJ.

She is survived by her brother, Derrel Ray “Bud” Harmon and wife, Nancy of Houston; her sister, Naomi Collins and husband, Bee J. of Waco; her uncle, Charles P. Teague of Spring; nieces, Tammy Michaelis and husband, Kirk of League City, Becky Aabye and husband, Scott of Moorhead, Minnesota and Jenny Hornbaker and husband, Steve of Waco; nephews, Tim Owens of Houston, Derrel W. “Rocky” Harmon and wife, Maggie of Houston and Mark Collins and wife, Lisa of Hamilton, Montana; many great-nieces; many great-nephews; many cousins; and many dear friends.

The family wishes to express our deepest appreciation to the staff at Lake Ridge Healthy Living of Waco for both their professional and personal loving care they provided for our dear loved one.

In lieu of floral arrangements, please consider a memorial gift in Mary’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 710 N. 64th Street, Waco, TX 76710 or to the American Heart Association.