It is with great sadness that the friends of Mary Lea Layton-Taylor announce her homegoing on November 8, 2022.
Mary Lea faithfully served her Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Humble community for 90+ years. Mary Lea was born to Robert Monroe Layton & Mary Lillian Brown on December 25, 1923, at the very site where she lived until her death. Mary Lea had one brother, Robert Monroe Layton, who preceded her in death in 1953. Mary Lea attended elementary, junior high and high school in Humble and graduated from Charles Bender High School in 1941. She went on to graduate from Baylor University in 1945 and returned to Humble to begin her teaching career that spanned 37 years. Mary Lea taught in the Humble Independent School District from 1945-1953. Between 1945-1949, Mary Lea taught 5th grade under the guidance of Mr. Jack Daniels. Beginning in 1950 until she left in 1953 Mary Lea moved to teach in the Junior and High School. She taught PE, Language Arts and – although she knew nothing about basketball - coached the girls’ basketball team. Growing up Mary Lea took dance lessons and piano lessons which led to the lead role in her Senior play, M’Liss, My Western Miss, a comedy-drama set in a small mining town. She had a heart for theater and later was a benefactor for our Charles Bender Performing Arts Center. In 1953, Mary Lea journeyed south on Highway 59 and taught the remainder of her career at Scarborough Elementary School where she taught 5th & 6th grade until her retirement in 1982. After her retirement Mary Lea traveled extensively with friends. On January 18, 1990, Mary Lea married her long-time friend, Jack S. Taylor. Together, they bought a motorhome and enjoyed traveling by themselves as well as with friends. Jack and Mary Lea later purchased a home in Lake Tahoe, California and spent many years traveling to Tahoe and entertaining friends and family.
Mary Lea served the Humble community in many capacities including the James Tull Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution where she was a charter member. In February of this year Mary Lea was honored as one of five living charter members of the chapter which celebrated its 50th year! She served on the board of the Humble Museum and was a member of Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls. Mary Lea recounted a story that stands out to her during her years in the Rainbow Girls. When she was 18 the Rainbow Girls attended an assembly in El Paso, Texas. They traveled to El Paso on a train along with other assemblies in the Houston area. Mary Lea’s mother, Lillian, wanted to prepare a “shoebox lunch” for Mary Lea to take along with her because she would not be able to afford a meal on the train. Mary Lea was adamant that she was not going to take a shoebox lunch because she knew she would be traveling with “high society” from Houston. Well, wouldn’t you know it…she was the only girl on the train that didn’t bring a shoebox lunch! Mary Lea has been a lifelong member of United City Church (formerly First Baptist Church Humble). In 1990, Mary Lea was appointed to the Northeast Hospital Board of Authority and faithfully served as Treasurer on that board until her retirement in January 2019. Under the careful guidance of the NE Hospital Board of Authority many worthwhile projects came to fruition as well as the funding of hospital upgrades. To continue her legacy, at a recent Humble City Council meeting Mary Lea was named as the Grand Marshal for the 2022 Christmas Parade of Lights in Humble.
Mary Lea is a renowned historian knowing much of Humble’s history. She was an integral part in the publication of the Humble History book that was published in 1976. She loved to regale “interesting tidbits” of the history of Humble to friends and anyone who would listen.
Mary Lea was preceded in death by her grandparents, George Buckner Brown and Mary Roberta Brown, her parents, Robert Monroe and Lillian Layton, her brother, Robert Monroe Layton, Jr, husband, Jack Sullivan Taylor, and her beloved niece, Virginia Lea Layton.
Mary Lea will be remembered for her infectious laugh, her willingness to help others who needed a helping hand, her service to her community and her love for her many pets over the years – Freckles, Spud, Nolie, Oscar and Morris to name a few. Mary Lea was a loving caregiver to her mother as well as her cousins, Joseph and Olga McEvoy.
Mary Lea would like to thank her special caregivers, Gertrude Washington, Jennifer Nixon and Karen Stephens for their faithful and loving care over the past three years.
A celebration of Mary Lea’s life will be held at Rosewood Funeral Home, 2602 S. Houston Avenue, Humble, Texas on Monday, November 14, 2022. Visitation will be at 1:00 pm. with the service following at 2:00 pm. Interment will be at Rosewood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to United City Church (formerly First Baptist Church Humble) Missions or to the charity of your choice.