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Graveside services for Mary Estes Harper, 84, of Marietta, were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 24, at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, with the Rev. Craig Rutherford of the First Christian Church, Marietta, officiating.
Born May 22, 1922, in Dallas, the daughter of William Clark and Nora Belle Neal Nash II, she died February 22, 2007, in Gainesville, Texas.
Mrs. Harper moved to Marietta in 1979 following her marriage to R.A. Harper. He preceded her in death in 2000. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Albert L. Edwards.
Mrs. Harper lived a full and passionate life. By the age of four she had won the Miss Junior Southwest Beauty Pageant and was awarded a contract with Fox Studios where she acted in several silent films and �Our Gang� episodes. Returning to Texas, she completed elementary school in Kilgore and graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas in 1938. Her design studies were permanently interrupted by marriage, motherhood and World War II, but her love of fashion and interior design continued throughout her life.
With motherhood, Mrs. Harper�s attention shifted to participating in her children�s education. She served several times as president of their elementary and high school PTA�s, becoming an Honorary Lifetime President in the National Organization. Interest in her children�s education extended beyond the schoolhouse into the great outdoors, where she instilled in them both love and respect for nature. Outdoors, she shared her joy in camping, hiking and skeet shooting, while at home she shared her love of reading, dancing, acrostics and canasta.
As her children grew older, Mrs. Harper entered the workforce, becoming a manager for Russell Stover Candies as well as running her own wedding catering business. With middle age approaching, she took up boating and moved to the Lake Texoma area, where she was manager of the Whitesboro Senior Center. It was through her love of boating and dancing that she met and married R.A. Harper and moved to Marietta where she became bookkeeper for his business.
Although raised in the Christian Science Church, Mrs. Harper joined the First Christian Church in Marietta, becoming an Elder and serving a year as President of the CWF.
In her later years, Mrs. Harper was known for her devotion to animals and the environment. She was a member of several humane societies and environmental organizations. But no passion outweighed her love for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, William R. And Rosemary Edwards of Carrollton, Texas, Steven A. And Connie Edwards of Plano, Texas, and Clark N. And Vivian Edwards of Van Alstyne, Texas; a daughter, Nora I. Edwards of Carrollton; a special "adopted" son, Rex Morris of Garland, Texas; two stepdaughters, Vanesa Harper Ramsey of Ardmore and Sharon Harper Hall of Falconhead; grandchildren, Laurie Nutgrass and husband Robert of Garland, William Edwards Jr. And wife Michele of Rowlett, Texas, Dr. David Edwards and wife Dr. Bridget Stuart of Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth Gotch and husband Chris of The Colony, Texas, Michael Edwards and wife Elle of Van Alstyne, Dawn Edwards of Tallahassee, Florida, Shannon Hyatt and husband Matt of Austin, Texas; two step- Grandchildren, Heather Sultana of The Colony and husband Adam of Saudi Arabia, Jeffery Hickman, Iraq, and wife Elaine of Twenty-nine Palms, California; great-grandchildren, Justin Nutgrass, Kristen Nutgrass, Emily Edwards, Cory Edwards, Holliann Edwards, Hannah Edwards, Paul Edwards, Aileen Edwards, Olivia Edwards, Alexander Sultana, Aaron Sultana and Skylar Hickman; and a great-great-grandchild, Hadlea Nutgrass.
This obit included a picture of Mrs. Harper.
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