Mary Louise (Gettys) Woodruff

Decatur ~ Mary Louise Gettys Woodruff, 93, passed from this life Thursday, May 23, 2019 in Fort Worth after a brief illness.

A Memorial Service and celebration of life is planned Saturday, June 29 at 10:30AM at the Decatur Conference Center. 

Mary Louise was born on August 27, 1925 to C.T. and Albert (Walker) Gettys in Fort Worth. She was united in marriage to W. B. Woodruff, Jr. (who shared her date of birth) on November 1, 1947 in Decatur. 

She graduated from Decatur High School in 1942, Decatur Baptist College in 1944, Baylor University with a BA in History in 1946 and received her Master’s of Arts Degree in History from the University of North Texas in 1952. She taught history at Decatur Baptist College from 1953 to 1958 and was one of the last known surviving teacher/staff member of that institution.  She owned and operated a local fabric and sewing shop called Fabric Fashions in Decatur from 1957 to 1963.

Her varied interests included gardening, astronomy, astrology, ancient civilizations and handwriting analysis.  She spent decades studying genealogy and traveling coast to coast researching her family history in countless state archives, cemeteries and libraries, becoming acquainted with distant relatives particularly in North Carolina, and eventually authoring numerous books on her families' roots.  These volumes provide an invaluable source of information for her relatives and later generations.  Her desire to learn and to teach never ceased.

She received the Decatur Distinguished Service Award from Dallas Baptist University in 2011 and just last month received their first ever 75th Anniversary Alumnus recognition.  She was a former member of the Decatur Woman's Club and belonged to a local Bridge Club for 50 years.

She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, and was always ready for visit or a competitive game of Dominoes or Cards.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 70 years, W.B. Woodruff, Jr.; her brother, Charles T. (“Tom”) Gettys and her great-grandson Drew Glosson.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her 3 sons, Martin Woodruff and wife Jana, Mason Woodruff and wife Karen, and Tim Woodruff and wife Joylynn, all of Decatur; her 2 daughters, Nannette Williams and husband Kevin of Denton, and Nola Cocanougher and husband Daniel of Lake Bridgeport; 13 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and one on the way; her sister, Margaret Ann Cude and husband Mel of Decatur; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

 The family wishes to thank the staff of Governor's Ridge Assisted Living Center in Decatur for the friendship and care they have shown the family over the past 18 months.

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