Mary was born in Ballinger, Texas on December 20, 1926, to Roy and Gladys (Blackwell) Green. She was the youngest of five children: brothers Gene and DL and sisters Norma Lee (Nurm) and Peggy. She adored her mother who was a firm but funny matriarch.
She loved her father's laundry business that he ran after his time as a farm worker. She was fascinated by the tools and machines in the shop as a young girl and remembered her father to be a very hard worker despite a debilitating leg injury sustained during WWI.
Growing up in Ballinger, Mary was a fast runner and an avid tree climber. She loved baseball best and played center field. When she was a teenager, she confessed that she was a pretty fast driver and could beat anyone in town by taking all the side roads! Her first job was working for her mom at a stand they set up near the high school selling hamburgers and school supplies. Mary loved her best friend Willa Mae and enjoyed singing duets with her at events and dancing any chance she got. They were 'thick as thieves.' Each Saturday night they would head to the movie theater for a double feature for the cost of 10 cents. There was always a western paired with a comedy which spawned a lifelong love for westerns.
After high school, Mary moved to San Angelo and worked at a warehouse. She stayed with her brother Gene, and his wife Louise, to help after the birth of their first child. She was very fond of this time in her life. She was very close to Louise and considered her a sister. Shortly after, she married and moved to Colorado where she lived on and off during the pregnancy and birth of her three children: Shelley, Daniel (Dan), and Kathy. After Kathy's birth, they ended up in Midland, Texas where the oil industry was booming. Mary worked as a cafeteria manager for Midland ISD. She was a loving, protective, and supportive mother. She helped Shelley learn how to read, ensuring she could pronounce and spell her words correctly. A lifelong gift that Shelley would use to teach her own four children to read in later years. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for Dan and supported all his scouting events including pine wood and soap box derby races. When Kathy took up gymnastics, Mary was there to drive her to practice and meets without fail. Mary was a talented and creative seamstress. She would often make her children's clothing including special items like Shelley's wedding dress, all the cheerleading outfits for Kathy's squad at Sul Ross University, and a gown Kathy described to her over the phone (made and shipped without any measurements, arriving as described and a perfect fit). Mary would often make her own patterns and design quilts that she would sew by hand. The gift of sewing and quilting was passed on to three additional generations.
She lived in Midland until she retired (the first time). After retirement she and her spouse lived in Menard, Texas where she worked making BBQ and serving people at Decker's Grocery. Amongst her family she was known for cooking fresh caught catfish and fries over an open fire for family reunions and family camp outs at 'Four Mile.' She hosted many Green Family reunions, sharing her land and cooking for loved ones. She loved to eat the fresh pecans from the river bottom, shelling them with a metal nutcracker while eager grandkids awaited a bite!
After leaving Menard in the early 1990s, Mary made her final home in Tomball, Texas. She went back to work again as a cafeteria manager for Tomball ISD, retiring a second time at age 83. During her time in Tomball, she got to see her two grandsons Chris and Michael grow up. She supported their racing endeavors for many years as a devoted fan and proud grandmother. She would later get to be present for her great-grandson Korbin's high school years in Tomball. Mary loved attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, teaching many children and sharing her love of her Heavenly Father. Mary was an avid, and some would say 'treacherous,' domino player. A skill she learned from her father. She loved playing games with both of her daughters' families including dominoes, Scrabble, Rummikub, and poker (which she taught her great grandkids). She played the organ and had a beautiful singing voice, winning a family talent show or two!
During her later years, Mary developed a special relationship with her great-grandchildren Korbin, Amity, Lucy (Amity's best friend), Jackie, and Sawyer (Jackie's best friend). They would spend hours listening to her stories, playing games with her (including laughterfilled games of Scattergories), and watching westerns. It is a rare and special gift to get to know and be close with a greatgrandparent. Mary was a beautiful, bright, and faithful soul. She will be remembered by her friends and family for her generosity of spirit, quick-witted humor, and sharp presence of mind.
Mary is survived by her daughter Shelley and husband Jay Hibler; daughter Kathy and husband Rob Ryan; grandson Joe Hibler and wife Kelly Hibler; grandson Ryan Hibler and wife Kristin Hibler; granddaughter Kristi Hibler-Luton and husband Rob Luton; granddaughter Varessa Hibler; grandson Chris Ryan and partner Eva Stingley; grandson Michael Ryan and wife Denny Ryan. She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Col, Haley, and Megan Hibler; Zach Carner and wife Ashley Carner and Noah Carner; Korbin Hibler; Amity Hibler, Jackie Luton, and 'adopted' great granddaughter Lucy Taylor. Additionally, she leaves behind many great cousins, great nieces, great nephews, and friends. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her siblings Gene, DL, Norma Lee, and Peggy, as well as her beloved son, Daniel Roy Bradford.