A private service for Mary Lee Mewis will take place at Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville, Texas. She passed away peacefully at her home on November 7, 2025. Mary was the oldest living Fayette County resident in Fayette County history.

Mary Mewis was born in Industry, Texas on September 24, 1916 to Willie Berndt and Marie (Zeptner) Berndt. She graduated from Industry High School and later married Delmus Mewis on March 30, 1939. They were married for 46 years until his passing in 1985.

Mary was a wonderful cook and seamstress. She enjoyed cooking for her family and having them over for Sunday dinners. She also enjoyed gardening and canning. Most of all, Mary loved the Astros. She didn’t miss a game and was one of their biggest fans.

Mary attended beauty school and had a shop in Texas City. In 1941, she opened Milady’s Beauty Shop in La Grange where she graced her clients with her talent until 1995. Clients included the famous girls and madam of the Chicken Ranch, and she even went to the Chicken Ranch to do Madam Jessie William’s hair when she could not get to Milady’s. After retiring from the beauty industry, she cooked at her daughter and then her daughter-in-law’s childcare starting at Kiddie Land in 1998 then finishing out at DIG it! Preschool in 2012. Mary worked until she was 95 years old. Mary, a true historical Fayette County lady, will be dearly missed by her family, friends and anyone that was blessed to have known her.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Linda Hawkins and husband, Jesse of La Grange; grandchildren, Steven Karstedt and wife Stacie, Kevin Karstedt and wife, Theresia, Verinda (Karstedt) Dayton, and John Green and wife Tiffany – all of La Grange; great grandchildren, Jacob, Cody, KJ, Kelli, Chayton, and Cheyene; great-great grandchildren, Hudson, Sane, Carter, Peyton, Elizabeth, Everleigh, and Emerson; long-time caregiver, Lupe Scott and special friends, Kayla Lyon and Brayden Bosquez.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Delmus Mewis; her parents, Willie and Marie Berndt and sisters, Wilma Austin (Herman) and Willie Mae Doss (J.D.).

Services are under the Care and Direction of Fayette Memorial Funeral Home of La Grange Texas. Please visit www.fayettememorialfuneralhome.com to share memories and leave your condolences for the family.