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Mary "Mimi" Duderstadt Deason died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 28, 2012 in Victoria, Texas. She was born October 27, 1924 at home in Cabeza, Texas to Louis and Myrtle Brown Duderstadt. Mary was a strong Christian and a Sixth Generation Texan. Mary was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Jesse James Deason; her brother, Warren Duderstadt; her sister, Hazel Dean Herrick; and her sister Mina Mae Morris . She is survived by her brother, Wilmer Duderstadt and his wife Peggy of San Antonio. Mary leaves behind a very large family to cherish her memory; her son Jay Deason and wife Cathy Schmidt Deason of Austin, Colorado, their daughter Haley and husband Freddie Castillo of Victoria, their children, Warren, Ashley, Delano, Freddie, Dominique and David Joe; her daughter Joy Deason Bailey and husband, Bill Bailey of Houston and Milam, their daughter Maribet and son Geoff; her son Jeff Deason and his wife Linda Lopez Deason of Austin and Nacogdoches, their daughter Leah and her husband Christopher 'Tink' Pinkard, their son Ben, and daughter Madalyn; her daughter Jane Deason Allred and her husband Jimmy Allred of Austin, their sons Jacob and James Andrew along with daughter Melanie. Mary attended Hot Wells High School in San Antonio. She worked for Braniff Airlines and was an administrative assistant for the Director of Flight Training for pilots at Fort Sam Houston during World War II. She pursued extensive hours and training to obtain her pilots license until her beloved brother Warren, an advanced experimental test pilot, died in an accident. Her parents, Louis and Myrtle, convinced her not to pursue her dream. Mary later worked with meteorologists in the San Francisco area. She married her love, Jesse Deason, on April 27, 1946 in San Antonio. Jesse served in the United States Air Force as Chief Master Sergeant which afforded them the opportunity to live and travel abroad, an experience they and their family enjoyed immensely. Mary continued to travel later in life; among her favorite destinations were Greece and Machu Picchu, Peru. She annually hosted a "Cousins Reunion" for just her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at Port Aransas every spring. Mary donned a bathing suit and basked in the Texas Gulf, explored Mustang Island and boiled crawfish with her adored progeny over a luxurious, extended weekend. Mary spent years extensively researching family geneology, with the assistance of cousins on the maternal side of her family. She was a member of the Old Three Hundred of Texas, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Colonial Dames of America, the Mayflower Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a direct descendant of William Bradford. She learned that her grandfather , many generations ago, Zadock Woods, at 80 years old, mustered a fragment of volunteers who faced Santa Ana at the Massacre of Salado Creek; Santa Ana was on his way to confront Sam Houston at The Battle of San Jacinto. Zadock was the oldest man slaughtered at this massacre in the name of Texas Freedom. All of these heroes are entombed at Monument Hill outside of La Grange, Texas. His oldest son, Norman Woods, was captured and taken to Perote Prison in Mexico where he was detained until he died a young man. The pipe Norman whittled to smoke his tobacco while imprisoned in Perote Prison is on display in the Alamo Barracks. Zadock's younger son, Gonzalvo, managed to escape, taking a large Mexican lance with him which is also in storage in the Alamo. Mary was a lifelong Methodist. After retirement, she and Jesse lived in Nacogdoches, Texas for many years. After Jesse's death, she lived in Brady and Austin, Texas. Viewing and family visitation will be held Tuesday evening, January 31, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Mission Park South, 1700 S.E. Military Drive, San Antonio, Texas. 210 924-4242. Funeral service will be Wednesday afternoon, February 1, at 1:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Mary's grandsons, James Andrew Allred, Ben Deason, Jacob Allred and Geoff Mole; and great-grandsons, Warren Nelson and Delano Castillo. In lieu of customary remembrances, Mary requested memorial contributions to First Baptist Church Brady Food Bank, Parkinson's Research, Alzheimer's Research.

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Mary Duderstadt Deason

October 27, 1924 - January 28, 2012