Mary Ellen Ayers, 93, of Dilley, Texas, peacefully passed away on December 3, in Kerrville, Texas, surrounded by loving family.

Mary was born on July 24, 1928, to Lonnie Lee Coleman, Sr. and Lottie DeSpain Coleman in Oilton, Texas. She attended high school in Miranda City, Texas. Mary married O.D. Ayers in September 1947 and they made their home in Carrizo Springs, Texas.  They went on to have five children together. Mary was a business partner and housewife devoting her life to her husband and raising her children.

Mary was a woman of deep Christian faith and a long-time member of The First Baptist communities in Carrizo Springs and Dilley, Texas. She was a sixth generation Texan, and extremely proud of her Texas roots and heritage. She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and a member of the Alamo Heroes Chapter, in San Antonio, Texas, where she served as chaplain for several years. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Dilley, Texas, and supported veterans wholeheartedly as the widow of a WWII veteran.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brothers Oran Henry Coleman, Daniel Arnold Coleman, Lonnie Lee Coleman, Jr., and her sister Kathryn Madge Orr.

Mary was a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and is survived by her children: Lonnie D. Ayers and his wife, Linda, of Floresville, Texas, Linda K. Myers and her husband, Scott, of Kerrville, Texas, G. Lane Ayers and his wife, Nita, of Canyon Lake, Texas, Laura E. Bedgood and her husband, Carl, of Victoria, Texas, and Debra Lynn Younghaus and her husband, Jim, of Alpine Texas; Sister-In-Law Mary Coleman of Knoxville Tennessee; her grandchildren: Ryan Archer and wife Alyssa, Quinn Leinen and wife Kristen, Neil Leinen and wife Jessica, Shannon Ayers, Loni Ayers, Jeremy Ayers, Jase Ayers and wife Pam, Lyndsi De La Rosa and husband Henry, Tambri Tagliabue and husband David, Alysia Bedgood, Tasha Culberson  and husband Jack, Amanda Collins and husband Shane, Cassie Zimbelman and husband Adam, Tristan Younghaus.  She is also survived by twenty-one precious great grandchildren and several very special nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please send donations to The First Baptist Church in Dilley, Texas.

The family would like to thank the staff at River Point Memory Care and Sid Peterson Hospice of Kerrville, Texas, for their excellent care and compassion in her final days.

Graveside services will be held at the Dilley Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 10, with a reception to follow at The First Baptist Church of Dilley, Texas Fellowship Hall.

If you would like to share a memory, leave condolences or sign the guestbook, please go to www.hurleyfuneralhome.com