Mary Edna Richard Russell, 78, Orange

On May 22, 2022 her work on earth was now done. Mary Edna Richard Russell closed her eyes in this world and opened her eyes to God's Glory.

Mary was born on July 9, 1943 in Orange, Texas to Eddie and Mary Lou Richard.

She was married to Billy Russell for 60 years and they had four children. Mary was the epitome of a stay at home wife and mom. She was the type of mom that served as room mother to her kids' classes and also served in the PTA. She was always helping out the teachers and staff in any way that she could. Mary always had a house full of neighborhood kids that she treated as her own, and she wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

Mary loved sewing matching outfits for her kids, cooking and dancing. Her and her husband won many dancing contests over the years. She also loved her summer trips to Pecan Island to visit her family and friends.

Once all of her kids were grown, she kept herself busy by helping out at the Bowling Alley Daycare and also worked for a few years for her alma mater, Bridge City High School, in the evenings and summer with the custodian night shifts.

She was always a proud graduate of BCHS. Mary kept in contact with many friends that she went to school with over the years. They reminisced and enjoyed each others stories. She loved the ones when she worked at Wayside Inn, and also loved reminding her family and never letting them forget that she was once crowned Bridge City Carnation Queen.

Mary will be missed by many here, but the minute she stepped foot into Heaven's Glory, she was finally reunited with her son, Clarence, who she missed immensely since his passing in 2003. Other family members that she was reunited with were her parents, Eddie and Mary Lou Richard; her brothers, James Richard and Owens Richard; and her grandson, Russell Naegele.

Those left here with only her memories are her husband, Billy Russell; her children, Wendy Sanchez and husband Paul, Carol Naegele and husband James, and Susan Duck and husband Dwayne; and her favorite daughter, Trudie Shelton and husband Kurt.

Her grandkids she bragged on and loved wholeheartedly are Christopher Wilson, Melita Naegele, Jonathan Naegele, Jasmin Duck Landry, Josh Russell, Holeigh Sanchez Wiley, and Hannah Sanchez Minner, as well as many great-grandchildren.

The family would like to acknowledge the staff of Vidor Health and Rehabilitation Facility for all of the love, compassion, and devoted care they gave Mary during her brief stay there.

Mary's funeral service was held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Officiating was her nephew, T-Ray Vincent.

Visitation was held prior to the service at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

"Now she can go rest in the arms of Jesus, dance with the angels, and watch over us from there, until one day we unite with her again."