Mary Lou Chapa (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas-Mary Lou Chapa, 87, died Friday, January 15, 2016 in Amarillo, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 20, 2016 in the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit with Father Marco Gonzalez officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. A Rosary will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel. Mary Lou Chapa was born on January 24, 1928 in Mercedes, Texas to Paz Sr. and Dolores Gonzales. She grew up in Mission, Texas (The Cinco) all of her childhood until she was 18 years old. She married Alfredo Sr. on April 28, 1946. In the 1950’s they moved to Tulia, where Alfredo worked at the Royal Theater and Mary would help him. Mary Lou raised four children in Tulia where she was a lifelong resident. They were one of the first founding families of Saint Williams Catholic Church in Tulia. At the age of 50 Mary Lou got her GED and worked as a teacher’s assistant at Highland Elementary from 1978 to 2003. She was presented with the Educator of the Year in 2001, Tulia ISD Hall of Fame on April 30, 2012 and her Appreciation of 25 years of service to Tulia ISD. She was a Guadalupana and taught catechism classes at Saint Williams Catholic Church and the Church of the Holy Spirit for many years. Mary Lou was a survivor of different types of cancers for 13 years. Her husband Alfredo preceded her in death on December 23, 2009. Mary Lou touched many hearts with her unselfish love. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one daughter: Mary Lou Garcia, one son: Alfredo Chapa, Jr., four sisters: Ester Martinez, Eva Perez, Guadalupe Casanova and Edna Garza, one granddaughter: Tanya Mireles. She is survived by two daughters: Emma Hernandez and husband Joe of Tulia and Irene Mireles and husband Ruben of Tulia, four brothers: Faustino Gonzales and wife Juanita of Big Springs, Paz Gonzales Jr. and wife Delia of Tulia, Ramiro Gonzales and wife Josefina of Elsa and Ruben Gonzales and wife Josefina of Tulia, three sisters: Oralia Huron of Tulia, Martha Isaguirre of Hart and Emma Castillo of Tulia, eight grandchildren: Domingo Garcia Jr. Jennifer Resendez, Ruben Mireles Jr., Stephanie Barrientez, Luis Garcia, David Garcia, Eli Hernandez and Richard Mireles and nine great grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Online condolences may be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.