Mary Ellen Renfroe

Mary Ellen Renfroe, of Groesbeck, passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at age 91.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 7, 2022, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 7, 2002, in the Chapel with Reverend Steve Nance officiating.   Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jessie Jackson, Jason Lockwood, Wayne Ball, Dale Smith, CPT. Daniel Matocha and Jimmy Roe.  Honorary bearers will be Dan Blackstock, Ron Franks, Jerry Parmley, Larry Stewart, Dan Collins, and Jack Leach.  

Mary, called Sis by her family, was born February 23, 1930, to Oscar T. Cannon and Mattie (King) Cannon in Benham, Kentucky.   She grew up and graduated from high school in Benham, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Union Methodist College in Barbourville, KY.

Mary taught elementary school in Kentucky, then Ohio, and then moved to California to teach.  One day in Oceanside, she opened the door of her beach front cottage to a young Marine, who with his friend was looking for another young lady.   However, this Marine, Billy Glenn Renfroe from Groesbeck, TX., and Mary immediately enjoyed talking with each other, and he visited again the next day, and one year later they were married, on March 12, 1959, in San Diego, CA.

Several months after their marriage, Mary and Bill moved back to Texas.   They lived in Richardson for twenty-one years, where Mary taught first grade as well as raising their two children.   When Bill retired, they moved to Groesbeck, where Mary taught until retiring in 1984.

Mary was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Groesbeck.   She was involved in many activities in Groesbeck, including the Study Club, Garden Club and Methodist Women’s groups.    

Mary was well known for her artistic talent, and she gave of her time and talent in painting a mural on a wall at H. O. Whitehurst School, and also at the library.  She was very creative and decorated her daughter’s house each time she moved, as well as directing her Christmas decorations one year over the telephone.   She enjoyed cross stitching, making baby quilts and “Memory Quilts,” and flower gardening.    She always had to be busy, but also loved to read when not involved in her full daily calendar of activities. 

Mary always looked and acted like a proper Southern lady.   She was very kind and treated everyone the same.   She had a special heart for children. Her kindness no doubt was a blessing to many children she taught as well as to her family and friends.

In one of last conversations with her daughter a short time ago, Mary said “I know I married the right man.”

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, William Cannon and Edward Cannon.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Renfroe of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Cinde and Gary Paul Matocha of Spring; son, Rhone J. Renfroe of Groesbeck; grandson, CPT. Gary Daniel Matocha of Houston and granddaughter, Laina Matocha of Houston.   She is also survived by her sister, Doris Lanham of Gallipolis, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law, Margie and Scott Baird of Fort Worth; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Aileen Cannon of Bristol, Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews.