Mary Jarrell Fontenot passed away peacefully on August 5, 2022 in Jasper, Texas at the age of 70. Born on October 15, 1951 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, she attended and graduated from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education. While living in Lake Charles, she met the love of her life, Michael Dane Fontenot, with whom she later moved to Humble, Texas, where they spent more than 40 years before moving to Jasper, Texas.
While in Humble, Texas, Mary taught various subjects in the Humble Independent School District, including art and special education for over 30 years. She was a devoted mother and wife, an avid ukulele player, a happy camper, a diligent recipe gatherer (although not always recipe preparer) and a creative artist, who believed there were no mistakes in life—only happy accidents.
Most importantly, Mary was a woman of faith and was devoted to her church community in Humble, TX at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, St. Phillip’s Catholic Church in Huffman, TX, and in Jasper, TX at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. She adored, and was adored by, her family and is survived by her husband of 49 years, Michael Dane Fontenot; her three children, Michelle Fontenot Lestage, Jeremy Dane Fontenot and Sarah Elizabeth Fontenot Taylor; and her grandchildren, Ainsley, Elise, Olivia, Laine, Laila and Kade. She is preceded in death by her parents, H.W. “Doc” Jarrell, Jr. and Barbara Scott Jarrell and her sister, Sally Jarrell Baker.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 12th at 12pm, the funeral service will start at 2pm with a meal to follow at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Celiac Disease Foundation, 20350 Ventura Blvd, Suite 240, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.
Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home of Jasper.