Mary Gentry

Mary Gentry, 62, of Burnet, TX, passed away Monday morning, May 14, 2012, after a courageous second battle with cancer.


Mary grew up on a farm in Falls County, TX where she attended school through her sophomore year at Riesel High School. Her father was transferred and her family moved to Sacramento, CA where she graduated from Luther Burbank Senior High School in 1968. After pursuing ongoing education and varied interests, Mary lived in the Los Angeles area during the 1970's, participating in many political marches and protests of that time.

She moved to Garland, TX in 1981 where, in 1983, her daughter, Margaret, was born. In 1984 she moved to Marlin, TX and found employment at the Marlin Chamber of Commerce.

After the Hobby Unit of Texas Dept. of Corrections was completed in Marlin, Mary began a long tenure with TDC where she worked for over 20 years; working at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Halbert Unit in Burnet, TX, as well as units in San Saba and Gatesville.

In 2002, she moved to Leander, TX and in 2008 was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mary retired from TDC due to side effects of chemotherapy. In 2009, she moved to Lake Buchanan to pursue her dream of retiring at "the lake". At this time she became a Master Gardener with the Burnet Chapter of Master Gardeners and later transferred her membership to the Llano Chapter. Through this involvement, she formed many friendships with those who shared a like passion for flowers, plants, butterflies, and gardening.

Birds, nature, and her pets were her life. She loved working in her gardens, feeding and watching wild birds, and watching deer from her front porch.

Through her life, her interest in politics, the state of the country, world, and planet continued. In 2008, she served as a delegate for the Democratic Party until her illness caused her to resign.

Mary married three times - to Mark Hummel, Jeff Young, and Gary Chesser.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, James Lonnie Gentry, Jr. and Margaret Emily (Mitchell) Gentry Ferguson; brothers Clark Sanders who died in infancy and James Lonnie "Jimmy" Gentry. She is survived by her daughter Margaret Young; her sisters Madeline Schraeder of Conroe, TX, and Emily Senuta of Olathe, KS; her nieces Greta Lyren of Bangkok, Thailand, and Christy Schraeder of Huntsville, TX; and nephew Chad Senuta of Chicago, Il.

Donations may be made in her honor to the American Cancer Society, or she would most appreciate a flower planted and/or wildflower seeds spread in her name and memory.

As per Mary's wishes, a private memorial will be held for close friends and family. Please contact All Faiths Funeral Services for more information.