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Mary Louise Michels, 92, passed away on May 16, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. Visitation will be on May 23 from 6:00PM until 8:00PM at Mission Park North in San Antonio. Service will be at Mission Park North on May 24 at 12:00PM. Mary was born in San Antonio to Manuel and Mary Garcia on September 1, 1926. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio. She married Edwin Michels on May 22, 1954 in San Antonio. Mary and her older brother Manuel were raised in San Antonio by their loving and hardworking Aunt Maria Parga. Mary left high school at the age of sixteen to work for the Normoyle Ordinance Depot in San Antonio as a Junior Checker. In 1944 she transferred to San Antonio Air Service Command at Kelly AFB and worked as General Mechanics Helper until 1945. Over the next six years Mary supported herself with employment at Kress Dept. Store, J.B. Mfg. Co. and Joske’s. In 1951 she took employment with Lackland AFB as a Fiscal Accounting Clerk. It was during the period at Lackland that Mary met and eventually married Edwin Michels who at the time was in the Army and stationed at Ft. Sam Houston. In January 1955 she terminated her employment at Lackland due to her pregnancy with their first child Cindee. Over the following years, Mary and Edwin were blessed with three more beautiful daughters; Yolanda, Rebecca and Melinda. All the while, Mary fulfilled the responsibilities of being an army wife keeping the home fire burning while Edwin’s deployments were often overseas. Mary did get to travel with Edwin to Germany in 1956 and again in 1961 where they lived in Crailsheim for about five years. It was in Germany where the Michels met Heidi and soon to be husband Herbert Thomeier. An unbreakable bond between the Michels and Thomeiers quickly developed. Mary and Edwin have always treasured their lasting friendship with Heidi and Herbert. After returning from Germany, Mary polished her academic skills and received her GED from Central Texas College in 1967. Upon Edwin’s retirement from the Army in 1972, the family moved from Ft. Hood, Texas back to San Antonio. Not one to let grass grow under her feet, Mary immediately accepted employment with Ft. Sam Houston in the Financial and Accounting Division and worked as an Accounting Technician from March 1972 until her retirement in January of 1987. After retirement, Mary worked a couple of years as a paraprofessional for N.I.S.D. Mary and Edwin were parishioners of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church where they sang in the bilingual choir. Mary and Edwin were members of the Guadalupanas community which provides leadership in social concerns and performs works of charity. Mary enjoyed the company of family and friends and since she was fluent in both English and Spanish would often switch back and forth while conversing with those who were bilingual. Her favorite singer was Perry Como. Mary and Edwin loved to dance to the Big Band sound but were also known to tear up a Square Dance floor. She got a kick out of playing Bunco with her neighborhood lady friends. Mary had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening and planting flowers. Her grandchildren loved to play with her and tease her. She was always a great sport and loved their company. She is truly loved and will be deeply missed. Mary is preceded in death by both of her parents, her brothers Dr. Allen Garcia and Manuel Dean, and her precious daughter Rebecca. Mary is survived by her husband Edwin and her children Cindee Coursen , Yolanda Chadwell, (spouse; James Chadwell), and Melinda Michels. Her grandchildren Krista Golembiewski, (spouse; Kris Golembiewski), Tara Warner, Alycia Tipton, Matthew Chadwell and Ryan Chadwell. Her great grandchildren Kaeli Golembiewski and Kaeden Golembiewski. In addition to numerous loving relatives, Mary will also be remembered by the many good neighbors she came to know and cherish over the years from her Clifton Forge homestead.

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Mary Louise Michels

September 1, 1926 - May 16, 2019