Mary Jeter Worrel
April 28, 1929 - March 6, 2016

"Lit a candle in memory of Mary Jeter Worrel"

"This is something our friend Kelly Sue DeConnick wrote about our mother: Mary Worrel stood the height of a broomstick, weighed the same as two pennies plus a hummingbird and cast a shadow the size and shape of Texas. Like all Americas favorite myths, she was born in the Deep South, where the soil is richest for cotton and fables. She was named Juarez" for the exotic capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua and Kumi for the sound the cat made. Kumi. Kumi. Kuuumi. Every sound makes music in the South and every song has a story in it. Juarez knew 600 of those songs by heart and every one of them featured the Devil. (The Devil, like cotton, is fond of the warm sun and black earth.) She used to sing to the other children to give them a funhouse scare. It backfired of course, as those things always do. She thought he was coming for her--ole Nick Shadow--but it was just an automobile that rose up over that hill. The first shed ever seen. "Youda thought it was the Devil too! she'd howl and hit her thigh with her wee little fist as she told the tale. Whether she was running from the the old trickster or riding shotgun, well never know for sure, but Juarez and that automobile both followed Americas destiny west. Nick dropped her on the side of the rode in Texas where Juarez was reborn in a patch of bluebonnets and given the name Mary." For the rest of her life, her voice would carry with it the crackle of those southern gravel roads and her eyes would sparkle with the glint of the ornery child. Mary became Texas. Tall hair and high spirits, she met the world like a tornado meets the groundnothing was ever the same after. She slept with pistols under her pillows, one for each hand and two at the end, should she need to fire with her feet. She worked hard, loved hard, held every job there wastwice--and owned one home for each of her 117 childrenevery one of them Gods Most Precious Angel and each with that same spirited glint in their eye. (Even and especially her grandchildren, whom Mary loved like the field of wildflowers they are, each as unique and as indomitable as her will.) Women like Mary dont die; they return to the mythspace that was the only home that ever suited them, living on in memories and tall tales, every fiction more true for all the lies in it. Two pennies and a hummingbird worth of woman and still, somehow, she leaves a hole in our world the size and shape of Texas."

"Donice, thank you. Mother loved you and always spoke so highly of you. Her work at Sam's gave her such pleasure--she was born to do that job. Thank you for your kind words."

"To Mary's family, I'm so sorry for your loss. I also loved Mary, she was such a big inspiration to me, I looked up to her, I had the great privilege to work with her at Sam's Club. She was a hard-worker, always on time, always cheerful, lots of energy. Mary spoke often of her family, she was so proud of them, she loved them deeply. I miss her already, I loved Mary, my sweet friend, I will never forget her. I have lots of memories to cherish. May she rest in peace Donice Walker"

"WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize Mary J. Worrel on the grand occasion of her 80th birthday on April 28, 2009; and WHEREAS, Juarez Kumi Jeter was born April 28, 1929, in a boxcar in Van Alstyne, Texas, to Arthur Ambrose "Daddy Doc" Jeter and Jewell Duffy Jeter; she was raised in Alabama, and as a teenager, she took the audacious step of renaming herself "Mary"; and WHEREAS, While still in her teens, she became a military wife, and by the age of 29, she had lived in various places around the world, including Japan and England, and was the mother of six children; and WHEREAS, She moved to Austin in the early 1960s, soon became a widow, and then blossomed as an entrepreneur back in the days when a woman was not allowed to sign a contract without her husband's name on it; and WHEREAS, Her first venture into business was to purchase a rental home after reading a library book on real estate; she also served as an employee at the Jet Drive-In and proceeded to become both its owner and manager and quite the lady of independent means; and WHEREAS, She married Colonel Albert A. Worrel, retired, and became mother of two "change of life" babies; she went on to acquire and manage many rental properties, became widowed again, and after years of so-called retirement, she began her current work as a sample lady for Sam's Club, where she is known by all as "the flower hat lady"; she also manages to find time to pursue her talent as an artist and has taken classes in oil painting for 20 years; and WHEREAS, Noted for her charm and intrepid spirit, Mary Worrel is beloved by her family and many friends and is an exemplary lady whose energy and zest for life serve as an inspiration to others; she loves her work at Sam's Club, but she only plans to work there for 20 more years; her greatest joy is her two young grandchildren, Albert and Flora; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, hereby commend Mary J. Worrel on her many accomplishments and successes throughout her life and extend heartfelt congratulations to her on the joyful occasion of her 80th birthday; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mary Worrel, the distinguished lady of the flowered hat."

"Happier days . . ."