Our beloved "Mimi" died peacefully at home on September 2, 2026 surrounded by family. She was a loving and faithful wife, stepmother, grandmother and great-grandmother who worked hard all her life but was always ready for adventure, an apple martini, and a good show.

Mary was born in El Paso on November 6, 1926. She lost her mother to cancer when she was just 10 years old and went to live with her aunt in Galveston while her father stayed behind to work and survive the depression. After a few years, her father remarried and found work in San Francisco, and the family moved there. Mary found a life-long friend Rainey (Lorraine) there, and the two of them shared one bicycle and one pair of roller skates to explore the California hills surrounding their homes. After high school, Mary moved to NYC and found a job as a secretary for an executive at General Foods. While living there, with WWII over, she heard of secretarial positions for the US Army European Command in Heidelberg, Germany. She applied, was hired immediately by a General, and moved again to see the world! A few years later, she returned to the states and became a legal secretary in Dallas, starting her next adventure meeting and marrying G.H. Kelsoe. He was a successful attorney whose idea of "relaxation" on weekends was herding cattle and building fences. Mary joined right in, devoting herself to him and helping to raise his two sons, Garnett and Robert. Mary also supported and volunteered for many local charities. Most importantly she learned to type braille to copy student textbooks to braille for Visual Aid Volunteers in Garland. She was honored in 1991, after 25 years of service typing textbooks in her spare time, with the "50,000 Page Braille Award-For Turning Darkness into Light for untold numbers of blind children in Texas and these United States."

Mary was predeceased by her loving husband of 45 years, G.H. Kelsoe and is survived by her sons Garnett Kelsoe (Marcella) and Robert Kelsoe (Laura), granddaughters Camilla Sturm (Josh), Julia Kelsoe, Grace Kelsoe (Christopher), Allison Kelsoe (Jordan), Emily Kelsoe (Matt) and great granddaughter Palmer Ruth Richman. The family would like to thank the Augustine Health caregivers for their loving care and kindness to our Mimi - especially Eevette, Marygoretti, and Janet.

A memorial service will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd 11122 Midway Road, Dallas on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a reception in the Parish Hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to Good Shepherd Episcopal School or charity of your choice.