MARY ALICE WILLS:

Mary Alice Wills passed away on October 12, 2013.  She had served as the President of the Katy ISD School Board in the 1980's.  I knew Mary Alice when her children and mine attended Nottingham Country schools.  Our PTA at Nottingham Country nominated her for the 1984 National PTA Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Educator Award. 

I find it lamentable that the Katy school district and the Katy Times did not eulogize this Katy citizen who served in so many capacities.

Here is her obituary as recorded in the Houston Chronicle

Mary Alice Wills (1941 - 2013)

Mary Alice Wills , age 72, passed away on October 12, 2013. Mary Alice was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Eugene and Alice Harmon. She received her undergraduate degree from Trinity College and her masters degree from Catholic University, both in Washington, D.C. She went on to become a beloved mother and grandmother, and a noted historian, author, and educator. Mary Alice is survived by her spouse of 49 years, Robert J. Wills. She is also survived by her two children and five grandchildren: daughter, Linda Wills, and her husband, Jeffrey Pyle, and their three children, Matthew, Caleb, and Catherine Pyle; and her son, Kevin Wills, and his wife, Ashley Wills and their two children, Amelia and Andrew. She is also survived by her twin sisters, Jeanie Lindquist of Trussville, Alabama, and Joanie Tichenor of Louisville, Kentucky. Mary Alice was a life-long supporter of public education. She applied her education, avocation, and profession as a historian to teach at the high school and college levels for many years. She proudly served for two terms beginning in 1983 on the Katy Independent School District School Board as a Trustee and later as Board President. For the last 25 years until her retirement in August, 2013, she worked for Houston Community College in their Northwest Office in positions ranging from instructor, to academic dean and then to dual credit coordinator. In addition to being active in the community and working fulltime, Mary Alice was an avid traveler, particularly enjoying trips with her husband, their children and grandchildren.