MARY OLA THOMASSON FORDYCE
Mary Ola Thomasson Fordyce
Mary Ola Thomasson Fordyce of Wimberley, Texas went home to be with her Savior on October 29, 2018 at the age of 93.
Mary Ola was born on August 7, 1925. She was one of 10 children born to Benjamin and Maggie Ola Thomasson. She attended Austin High School most of her year Senior year, and transferred to Aldine High School where she graduated after her family moved. She went to college at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. After losing her Mother to cancer, she came home from college in the middle of her senior year to care for her younger siblings.
Mary Ola met the love of her life, Rex Fordyce, with whom she spent 69 years, at one of the first Young Life Clubs in Houston, Texas.
Together they had four daughters Cindy, Sharon, Linda and Marsha.
Mary Ola’s dream was to be a missionary overseas. However, the Lord had a different plan for her life. She helped start the CEF Ministry in Houston, Texas, and became a missionary in her hometown. Once a week for 40 years, she opened her home to the children in her community so they could participate in the Good News Club. She vividly and compassionately shared her love for the heroes of the Bible, and her faith in the one true God. She was recognized by the city of Houston as one of its Hometown Heroes, and received an award from Warren Moon at a reception given by the city of Houston in her honor.
She and her husband, Rex, helped start Camp Good News, a Christian summer camp in Huntsville, Texas. Mary Ola was actively involved in Spring Branch Community Church in Houston, and after moving to Wimberley, First Baptist Church of Wimberley. She served for many years on the Missions Board at First Baptist Church. She also enjoyed going weekly with a group of ladies to Hays County Jail for weekly Bible studies with the women inmates.
She and Rex were also committed to Camp Peniel in Marble Falls, Texas. She supported them directly in her capacity as a member of the Camp Peniel Ladies Auxiliary. Mary Ola and Rex attended Camp Peniel, together, before they were married. They developed a life long friendship with “Chief” Gordon Whitelock and his wife Alice, the founders of Camp Peniel.
Mary Ola, in her role as mother, grandmother and great grandmother, loved her family and enjoyed getting together with them to play games, cookout at the Ranch, sing together, share stories and catch up on life experiences. Another one of her great joys was to cheer on her grandchildren as they played sports. She seldom missed a game.
She loved people and deeply cared about their salvation or lack thereof. All conversations eventually led back to what really mattered to her which was spreading the exciting news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her goal was to win young children and adults to Christ, and she did. God used her in a mighty way.
Mary Ola is survived by her husband Rex, her sister Patricia Powers, her brother Don and his wife Cathy Thomasson, her sister in love Frances Thomasson, and her baby brother Tim Thomasson. In addition to Cindy Klentzman, Sharon Anderson, Linda Schalles and Marsha Dupre, her daughters and their husbands, Barney Klentzman, Hal Anderson and Don Dupre.
She loved her 12 grandchildren deeply and pursued them compassionately. Rex Klentzman, Leah and Taylor Blum, Alisha and Travis Randig, Seth Anderson, Bethany and Grant Hutchison, Ty and Michelle Anderson, Ranie and Travis Warren, Casey Schalles, Katie and Michael Allen, Caleb Schalles, Kendra and JT Hallmark, and Miller Walker.
She was extremely proud of her 21 great-grandsons and great-grandaughters, Mia Hegar, Lyla and Eleanor Klentzman,
Elliott and Wyatt Blum, Reece Anderson Randig, Cord Randig, Bryce Anderson, Rex and Hallee Trent, Hutch Hutchinson, Luke and Savannah Anderson, Matthew and Millie Warren, Chase, Kyle and Kendall Allen, Samantha Walker, and Sarina and John Hallmark, numerous other nieces and nephews and Thomasson and Fordyce family members.
Friends are invited to visit with the family on Wednesday, November 14 from 5-8 p.m. at Thomason Funeral Home. (14700 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, Texas, 78676).
A public service will be held on Saturday, November 17 in the Chapel from 2-4 p,m. at Rosewood Funeral Home. (2602 South Houston Avenue, Humble, Texas, 77396)
If desired the family requests memorial donations in her memory to Camp Peniel (6716 E. FM 1431, Marble Falls, Texas, 78654 ) or CEF Houston (PO Box 10904, Houston, Texas, 77206).