1934
Mary
2014
Mary R. Tisdale
March 16, 1934 — December 22, 2014
MARY D. “COOKIE” TISDALE
Harlingen:
Mary Dolores “Cookie” Tisdale passed away at her residence in Harlingen, Texas on December 22, 2014, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Cookie was born in Victoria, Texas on March 16, 1934 to William Anthony Reuter and Margaret Alonso Reuter. She was nicknamed “Cookie” by her maternal grandmother because of her love of cookies. She graduated from Nazareth Academy Catholic School and met Sam Tisdale of Port Lavaca, the love of her life, at her Junior-Senior Prom. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Education degree before moving to Houston where she taught at Spring Branch ISD. She and Sam were married in Houston on August 8, 1964, and relocated to Orange, Texas later that year.
Cookie and Sam moved to Harlingen from Orange with their children, Bo and Jennifer, in 1974. She became very active in school events and P.T.A. Her community activities included serving on the boards of the Community Playhouse, Community Concert Association, Arts and Entertainment, St. Anthony Catholic Church and School, P.E.O. Chapter T, Junior League, and the Algodon Club. She served on the Harlingen Public Library Board for 25 years and was Chairman of the Board for 20 of those years. She was especially proud of the Children’s Courtyard Garden at the library. Cookie was also very active with the American Cancer Society in its Reach to Recovery Program as well as the Society’s annual fundraiser, “Dining by Design,” having served on the planning committee which started that event. In recognition of these and other community services, she was inducted into the Harlingen Walk of Fame in 2013. In her spare time, she loved to garden and play bridge.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Alonso Joseph Reuter; and her sister, Helen Frances Reuter. She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Sam C. Tisdale, Jr. of Harlingen; her son, Sam C. ‘Bo’ Tisdale, III and his wife, Natalia, of Brooklyn, New York; her daughter, Jennifer Marie Tisdale of Austin, Texas; and one grandchild, Sean Archer Tisdale of Brooklyn, New York.
The family would like to thank Dr. Todd Shenkenberg and his office staff, especially the nurses in the Chemo area for all their love and care.
Visitation will be held at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home on Friday, December 26, beginning at 3:00 PM, followed by a rosary at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 209 S. 10th Street. on Saturday, December 27 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony School, 209 S. 10th Street, Harlingen, TX 78550; American Cancer Society, 5413 S. McColl Rd., Edinburg, TX 78529; Friends of the Harlingen Public Library, 410 76 Drive, Harlingen, TX 78550; or to a charity of one’s choice.
Harlingen:
Mary Dolores “Cookie” Tisdale passed away at her residence in Harlingen, Texas on December 22, 2014, following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Cookie was born in Victoria, Texas on March 16, 1934 to William Anthony Reuter and Margaret Alonso Reuter. She was nicknamed “Cookie” by her maternal grandmother because of her love of cookies. She graduated from Nazareth Academy Catholic School and met Sam Tisdale of Port Lavaca, the love of her life, at her Junior-Senior Prom. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Education degree before moving to Houston where she taught at Spring Branch ISD. She and Sam were married in Houston on August 8, 1964, and relocated to Orange, Texas later that year.
Cookie and Sam moved to Harlingen from Orange with their children, Bo and Jennifer, in 1974. She became very active in school events and P.T.A. Her community activities included serving on the boards of the Community Playhouse, Community Concert Association, Arts and Entertainment, St. Anthony Catholic Church and School, P.E.O. Chapter T, Junior League, and the Algodon Club. She served on the Harlingen Public Library Board for 25 years and was Chairman of the Board for 20 of those years. She was especially proud of the Children’s Courtyard Garden at the library. Cookie was also very active with the American Cancer Society in its Reach to Recovery Program as well as the Society’s annual fundraiser, “Dining by Design,” having served on the planning committee which started that event. In recognition of these and other community services, she was inducted into the Harlingen Walk of Fame in 2013. In her spare time, she loved to garden and play bridge.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Alonso Joseph Reuter; and her sister, Helen Frances Reuter. She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Sam C. Tisdale, Jr. of Harlingen; her son, Sam C. ‘Bo’ Tisdale, III and his wife, Natalia, of Brooklyn, New York; her daughter, Jennifer Marie Tisdale of Austin, Texas; and one grandchild, Sean Archer Tisdale of Brooklyn, New York.
The family would like to thank Dr. Todd Shenkenberg and his office staff, especially the nurses in the Chemo area for all their love and care.
Visitation will be held at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home on Friday, December 26, beginning at 3:00 PM, followed by a rosary at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 209 S. 10th Street. on Saturday, December 27 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony School, 209 S. 10th Street, Harlingen, TX 78550; American Cancer Society, 5413 S. McColl Rd., Edinburg, TX 78529; Friends of the Harlingen Public Library, 410 76 Drive, Harlingen, TX 78550; or to a charity of one’s choice.
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