Mary Louise Adams, 86, of Waco, passed away peacefully September 7, 2016 at Quality Care Nursing Center.
Memorial service: 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 14th at Lake Shore Funeral Home officiated by Rev. Al Zidermanis.
She is survived by her brother, William Robert Adams; nephews, Christopher DeWitt Adams and Charles Ancel Adams; niece, Lissa Lee Adams; and by grand-nephews, Robert Madison Adams, Brett Adams, Reid Adams and David Adams.
In her childhood, she lived in several different Texas communities as the family followed her father’s jobs to various towns in the state. She has lived in Abilene, Amarillo, Brownwood, Austin, Cuero, Bryan, Lake Jackson, Huntsville, College Station and Waco.
She graduated from Bryan High School in 1948 and attended Teachers College in Denton, Texas for 2 years, then transferred to Baylor University in Waco, graduating with a B.A. in 1952.After graduation she spent a year in New York City, working as a secretary at American Cyanamide Corporation in Rockefeller Center. She then returned to College Station and served as secretary to the commandant at Texas A&M College prior to spending a year in graduate school at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
In 1956, she traveled to Europe on what was intended as a short vacation, but she enjoyed Germany so much she stayed for three years. Funds running out she obtained a position with Berlitz Language Company teaching English to the Germans and lived for two years in the town of Bielefeld in northern Germany. Inevitably this led to her becoming proficient in Deutsch.
Returning to the U.S. in 1960, she took up residence with her parents in Waco, where her father was now professor in the Math Department at Baylor University. Shortly she joined the Baylor faculty herself, teaching German in the Foreign Languages Department. She remained a member of the Baylor faculty for the remainder of her career and after retiring continued her association with the University by working part time in the Baylor Library.
Until their deaths she lived with her mother and dad, supporting and lovingly caring for them in their golden years. She developed breast cancer in 2001 and waged a valiant struggle against its devastation for fifteen years. Despite the cancer she lived life fully and joyously, always taking pleasure in and treasuring her friends and family.
Contact Information:
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
Bob, it’s been a long time since I have seen Mary. When Eileen was in High School we moved our church membership to Highland Baptist Church in Waco. Our paths never seem to meet. I remember you and your family and Mom and Dad (Pearl and Floyd) and some of Floyd’s favorite sayings (“is the toast ready to be scraped yet”). I am going to try to make the Memorial Service and see you there. God bless you and family and have a safe trip.
I can remember Mary Adams from the time I was a small child. She was one of the kindest, most beautiful, and most graceful women I have ever met. I have always admired her for her innocent and carefree nature, for her never-failing gentleness, and for her devout Christianity.
She used to come over and visit my parents with her father, or sometimes alone, but always with her poodle. She seemed to be fascinated by even the smallest detail of whatever was being discussed. She always showed a deep respect for every living being.
After Mary became ill and was often staying in a nursing home, I took my husband and children to see her. I didn’t really know what to expect or if she would be able to visit with us. She welcomed us as if she had invited us over for an elaborate tea and social hour. She made sure everyone had a seat, even if it was a wheelchair from the corner that had been housing medical supplies. My children drew pictures for her, and she received them delightedly, as though they were rare and precious commodities. In spite of her painful state, she maintained a positive and cheerful outlook during our visit, as well as at other times when I spoke with her on the phone. In fact, it seemed as though the sicker she became, the deeper her sense of gratitude and hope. I trust that sense was correct, that she is now in a place more abundantly beautiful and restorative than even she could imagine, and that she is happily reunited to her beloved father whom she spent so many years of her life caring for.
Mary Adams was a lady in the truest sense of the word, and I am very grateful for the influence she has had on me. I am profoundly honored to have known her, and I will miss her greatly.
My sincerest condolences to all her family and loved ones…
May she rest in Christ’s Peace.
Cecilia Martin Gruetzmacher
Mary Adams was one of the kindest, gentlest souls you could ever meet. She was a fine Christian lady with serious intellectual interests as university professor, a good friend and sensitive colleague. She is certainly now in a place of great goodness where all her virtues are truly appreciated.
Mary was a lovely lady. . I will miss her.
I had many great conversations with Mary, late at night while she worked at Baylor’s Central Libraries: from teaching me the correct pronunciation of the “U-umlaut”, her love for Germany & its people, to the latest in natural healing. She was one of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. These are great memories that will accompany me while we are apart. I will miss her greatly.
Until I see you again Mary. I had the honor of visiting with her a few times in the last three years as one of my closest friends Gianna always made sure to spend a lot of time with her especially in this past year. Jesus is Lord.
Mary was a precious sister in Christ and it was a privilege to know her. Her sweet, quiet spirit always brought a beautiful fragrance of Jesus. She will be missed.
Mary Louise and I were very good friends back when we were”young ladies” in our teens. She lived in Bryan and I lived in College Station, and we met at the First Baptist Church in College Station. One of the things that attracted me to her was – She Had A Horse – and spent a lot of our time together riding the horse, or falling off him, and just having fun. This was in addition to all the church activities in which we were involved. Today, her name just popped into my head and I found she was gone from this plane. Mary Louise had a very fulfilled life on this plane. and now she has gone on to her next adventure in Heaven. I know you are still missing her.
Emma Maye Freiberger-Hooper