Mary Lou (Long) Vestal

Mary Lou (Long) Vestal, of Groesbeck, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. She was a resident at Jeffrey Place Healthcare Center in Waco for the past two years, and lived to be 91 years of age. Visitation will be held at Victory Baptist Church (Hwy. 14-S, Groesbeck) on Thursday, April 16, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 17, 2015 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Billy Anderson of the Victory Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bob Waller, Cash Waller, Mitchell Waller, Don Waller, Darren Vestal, and Rainer Clewis. Mary Lou was born March 14, 1924 to Samual Dickson Long and Annie Lou (Esslinger) Long in the Prairie Point community near Groesbeck. She grew up as the farm girl daughter of a farming and ranching family, living on the hilltop at Prairie Point and going to school there and later Groesbeck, where she graduated in 1942. She was a drummer in the Groesbeck Goat Band, and even after she had graduated, was asked to come back and play with the band because they did not have a drummer. Mary Lou left Groesbeck in 1942 to go to California to be united in marriage with Wayne Williams, who was in the service during World War II. She came back to Groesbeck when he was sent overseas, and their son Sidney was born in 1943. She became a widow when Wayne was killed on November 6, 1944 in battle in the Philippines. Mary Lou had some training in Nursing School in Houston. She worked for Dr. Riggs at his office in Groesbeck and also sold tickets at the Limestone Theater at night. It was at the ticket counter she met Toby Vestal, from Ben Hur. They dated, and were married November 11, 1946. One year later, on November 11, their daughter Lou Anne was born. The Vestal family lived in several towns where his job was located with USDA-Soil Conservation Service, until moving back to Prairie Point and then Groesbeck. When the children were in school, Mary Lou went back to work as a nurse for Dr. Riggs. Mary Lou however was a business woman at heart and wanted a retail store. She and Toby opened Vestal's Western Wear in downtown Groesbeck around 1974, when western wear was very popular everywhere, not just for working cowboys anymore. She had many loyal customers, locally and out of town, and enjoyed the business. She also enjoyed being involved in the Chamber of Commerce and other community activities. The store was a supporter of Groesbeck athletics and was a football backer. They were also fans and were in attendance at the grandchildren’s events. Mary Lou became a widow again when Toby passed away in 1993. Mary Lou enjoyed working in the yard and flower beds, making trips with the Farmers State Bank group, visiting with her friends, and her big passion was cooking a big Christmas dinner for the family. After a serious fall in 2011, Mary Lou moved to Windsor Healthcare in Groesbeck, and lately had lived in Waco at Jeffrey Place. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Wayne Williams and second husband Toby Vestal; her brothers, Joe Long and Gene Long; a sister, Linda Carpenter; and her daughter-in-law, Suzanne Vestal. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Sidney and Melanie Vestal of Groesbeck; her daughter, Lou Anne Henderson of Waco; grandson, Tom Vestal and wife Patti of Groesbeck; grandson, Gary Vestal and wife Buffy of Gilmer; granddaughter, Heather Hicks of Robinson; granddaughter, Holly Lippe and husband Shawn of Robinson; granddaughter, Heidi Johnson and husband Brendon of Groesbeck. Great grandchildren are: Darren Vestal of Groesbeck, Dana Vestal of Groesbeck, Abigail Johnson of Groesbeck, Mason Johnson of Groesbeck, Addison Lippe and Colson Lippe of Robinson, Dax and Zane Hicks of Robinson, Penelope Vestal and Maddie Grace Vestal of Gilmer, Addison Coleman and John Coleman of Gilmer. She is also survived by her sister, Sue Waller of Groesbeck, many nieces and nephews, and other extended family.