(March 15, 1944 – July 14, 2026)
Mary Lee Markham (Cline) passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the age of 82. A celebration of life memorial will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Harvest Hills Funeral Home, 118 2nd St, Hico, Texas, followed by graveside at Duffau Cemetery.
Mary was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where her father worked in the oilfields. Her family moved often with her father’s work, and she lived across Oklahoma and Texas. An honor student and clarinet player in the high school band, Mary graduated from Kermit High School and went on to West Texas State University to major in elementary education. There, in her freshman year, she met Charles (Chuck) Markham. After their first date, during which he got a flat tire on his convertible as they drove back to Canyon from Amarillo and she was nearly late for curfew, sweet Mary said she would never go out with him again. Chuck, however, persisted, and they were married in the summer of her freshman year. They were married for almost 62 years. As an army officer’s wife, Mary was dedicated to supporting Chuck, and she and their daughter, Charla, traveled with him, living all over the US and in Germany. This meant the delay of her education, but she was determined and finished her BA in Education at West Texas State during Chuck’s second tour in Vietnam. She went on to teach elementary school at US posts and taught GIs to read while stationed in Germany. Following retirement from active duty, Mary taught generations of students at Hico Elementary School. She loved teaching and went on to complete a master’s in education at Tarleton State University focused on dyslexia and learning differences. She developed and implemented a reading program for each elementary grade and later, after retirement, adapted it for home school for a friend whose children were struggling.
Mary was a dedicated grandmother to her two adored grandchildren Lee and Victoria. She never missed the opportunity to spend time with them, and she and Chuck attended all events from toddler YMCA sports to college graduations. She was also able to attend Victoria’s white coat ceremony last year and go to a bridal dress appointment. All birthdays and holidays were spent with Charla and Gene, her beloved son-in-law, and Lee and Victoria. In the past several years, she loved getting to know Alaina and Jacob (Lee and Victoria’s fiancés). In her last year, while undergoing cancer treatment at UTSW, she spent time on the back porch in the mornings with Gene and having Girl Nights with Victoria and Charla.
Mary was often described as poised, elegant, and calm. She was patient, kind, and dedicated to her family and friends. She treated Charla’s friends as extensions of the family. She and Chuck loved to travel and, although she was often terrified during motorcycle trips, she held on tight. They loved to cruise and loved to travel across the US, Canada, and Europe. She delivered for Meals on Wheels, worked with the 155th Assault Helicopter Company to organize reunions, loved visiting with her friends, and always had an adopted rescue dog (and usually ranch cats). She loved animals and the peace of her back porch.
Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chuck; her mother, Sylvia Jones Cline; her father, T. R. Cline; her brother, Charles Cline.
She is survived by her daughter, Charla Markham Shaw and her husband Gene; her grandson, Lee Markham Shaw; her granddaughter, Victoria Carrol Shaw; cherished nephews, nieces, cousins, a host of friends, and her sweet furry girl, Cookie.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels or area animal rescues.
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