Mary Zell (Rhoden) Harmon

Mary Zell Harmon

1945 - 2019

Mary Zell Harmon, age 74, passed away on August 21, 2019. She was born in Houston, TX on January 25, 1945 to R. J. Harmon and Francis Burnett Harmon.

Generous and caring, Mary struggled through life but never lost the love in her heart that guided her. She loved her family, especially the two daughters that she was blessed with, enjoying many years where she would include them in her varied pastimes. Often and spontaneously, their time together included trips to the beach, during a weekday, and sporadic singing in the car or wherever they might be, singing to Mary’s varied musical tastes, normally classic country. For the entirety of her life, Mary’s talent and creativity fueled an unquenchable pursuit of cultural, societal, and artistic knowledge. From her beautiful handwriting that she would use to journal her thoughts about life and past to her impromptu sketches and paintings, Mary Zell was an artist. Her penchant for learning led her to experiment with language, including sign language, and constantly learn about new words and desire to experience new things, most often and especially cultural. She was a Christian and longtime member of North Central Baptist Church in Houston. Always wanting to travel, she enjoyed the scenery that it offered. Mary could often be found inundating her children and grandchildren with knickknacks, goodies, and bought items from her favorite dollar store, rarely would a visit with Mary not end with bags full of things to take home. “Granny”, as she was known by her grandchildren, loved each of her many grandchildren very much, and no matter the limitations of life, she would fill any need of theirs that she saw. Until they see her again, Mary Zell’s eccentricities, variety driven way of living, and inherent caring and loving nature will be missed by all of her loved ones, and as she left this life, her familiar goodbye, “see you later, alligator”, rings in the ears of their hearts.

Left to honor her memory are her loving daughters, Bonnie Meloncon and husband, Brian of Crystal Beach, TX, and Amanda Brown of Hamshire, TX; sister, Margaret Wingler and husband, Travis of Versailles, MO, Deborah Rogers and husband, Bob of Bastrop, TX, and Glenda Folkes and husband, Johnny of Spring, TX; grandchildren, Ryan Nicholson, B.J. Meloncon, Kylea Nicholson, Makenzie Brown, Hallie Brown, and Lainee Ottman; great-grandchildren, Sawyer Nicholson and Kaysen Nicholson; and numerous extended family, friends and loved ones.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law, Mike Brown.

Visitation with family and friends will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, August 26, 2019 at Lumberton Family Funeral Home, 766 S. Main St., Lumberton, TX 77657. Mary’s life honoring graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at Brookside Cemetery, 13401 Eastex Fwy, Houston, TX 77039.

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