Mary Lou Alford

Mrs. Mary Lou Alford, age 79, of San Augustine, Texas, passed away early Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at her residence.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 2, 2021, at the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel with Brother Jim Moss and Brother Danny Forsythe officiating. Interment will follow at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden in San Augustine.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 1, 2021, at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.

Mary Lou was born June 8, 1941, in San Augustine County to Joe and Lena Dickerson. She attended San Augustine High School and Nacogdoches Business School where she earned a diploma in Executive Secretarial Course. She married Charles Alford on May 9, 1964. They had three children: Keith, Janie and Carol. Mary Lou worked a variety of jobs; managing the local Sears store, serving as the Tax Assessor Collector for San Augustine County, and working at various area sale barns as the office manager. She worked many local team ropings as the timer and bookkeeper. She was a supporter of the local 4-H, and made many trips to Houston for the trail ride and relay race teams. She loved being outside mowing her yard, or cutting and baling hay. Charles always had a small herd of heifers close to the house so she could see her “babies” daily. She had a way of calling them that no one can duplicate, but they would come to the lot every time.

The Alford family attended services at the San Augustine Cowboy Church.

Later in life, Mary Lou and Charles built two poultry farms on family land. She learned the poultry business working with Lilo Lopez who has been with the family for 15 years. The team of Mary Lou and Lilo won Grower of the Year for Pilgrim’s Pride for their hard work and dedication.

The family would like to recognize a few people who helped Mary Lou.

In 1974, Donald “Dunk” Mills began working with Charles. Dunk was always just a phone call away to get cows back in, bale hay, or haul cows/hay to somewhere. Mary Lou knew she could count on him to do anything she asked. Also, Grace Palicous came to help the family almost 10 years ago. She took care of the house while Mary Lou was outside mowing or cutting and baling hay.

Mary Lou loved visiting and talking with people. She could talk to anyone about anything. She enjoyed her daily phone calls to Mary Ann Griffin and the “twins” from down south. Kay and Fay Dickerson brought many smiles and giggles to her. The Sunday visits from Ms. Jane and Molly Sublett were the highlights of her week. She was especially proud of her two granddaughters, Barbara Pressley and Kayla Cowdin, for continuing their education in the nursing field. Mary Lou loved seeing her four great grandchildren; Reese, Remi, Elsi, and Deacon.

Also, a great big thank you to the Hospice nurses who took care of Mary Lou for the last couple of years. You are truly a treasure.

Her survivors include her husband, Charles Alford of San Augustine; son, Keith Alford and wife Brenda of Center, Texas; daughters, Janie Alford and Carol Alford, both of San Augustine; granddaughters, Barbara Pressley and husband Dustin of Hudson and Kayla Cowdin and husband Dustin of Center; great-grandchildren, Reese Pressley and Remi Pressley of Hudson and Elsi Cowdin and Deacon Cowdin of Center; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Griffin of Center and Barbara Dickerson of Carthage; a brother-in-law, Tex Birdwell of Bronson; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Lena Dickerson; parents-in-law, A.B. "Red" and Jimmie Alford; a brother, Marvin Dickerson; sisters, Mabel Birdwell and Jody Shutter; and brothers-in-law, Richard Griffin and G.A. Shutter.

Pallbearers: Robert Griffin, David Griffin, Edward McEachern, Jerry Shutter, Dustin Pressley, and Dustin Cowdin.

Honorary Pallbearers: Harlan Alexander, Joe Bob Tullos, Phil Sublett, Robert Powell, Spencer Hamilton, and Mike Bradbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to your favorite charity would be appreciated by her family.

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