Mary Ann Bledsoe

Mary Ann Bledsoe, 84 , of Normangee, TX passed from this life to join our Lord in heaven on Friday, August 26, 2011. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 29, at the Union Baptist Church of Ten Mile on FM 2289 at 10:00 am with Bro. Chase Murphy presiding. Burial will follow the funeral at the Ten Mile Cemetery neighboring the church. Visitation will be held at Cozart Funeral Home in Normangee on Sunday, August 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services have been entrusted to Cozart Funeral Home.

Mary Ann Collette Bledsoe was born on April 4, 1927 in Houston, TX. She was one of twelve children to Alessandro Lee and Loreta Vacanti Collette, originally from Sicily then Houston. Mary Ann was raised in the old truck farming community in North Houston, known then as Little York. She worked in the fields and family business of grocery stores and feed stores. As the soilders returned from WWII she met the love of her life, Pokey, at a small grocery store where she worked and he frequented as a customer. Pokey had recently returned from the war and was working for the phone company in the area. Pokey always asked for a date and Mary Ann refused. Finally, she counter offered with “I won’t go out with you, but I’ll marry you.” Although the courtship was brief, it resulted in 63 years of happy marriage. Till death do us part.

Her family was her pride and joy. She had a very outgoing personality and never met a stranger, but her beliefs were exemplified by the way she lived and raised her family. Mary greeted each new face with a smile and respect, you knew she could and would be your friend forever. After marrying Horace “Pokey” in 1947 she became a homemaker, loving wife and mother to five children and mother-at-heart to several others. Mary Ann loved to help others and participated in many fund raising events including walk-a-thons, rock-a-thons, in school and after school functions: PTA, room mother, little league, FFA activities coordinator and girl scout co-leader. She had a natural talent for ceramics and oil painting. Her home was decorated with much of her own works. Mary Ann also enjoyed gardening, fishing and loved to cook and feed people, she wasn’t happy if her guests weren’t eating something. After living and raising their family in Houston, she and Pokey retired to his birthplace of Normangee, where she continued in church functions and activities at Union Baptist Church of Ten Mile.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband Horace “Pokey” Bledsoe of 63yrs; both parents, Alessandro and Loreta Collette; four brother, Louie, Ned, Tony, and Joe Collette; five sisters, Lena Salvato, Vencie Ferrero, Rose Tilotta, Angeline Frenza, and Mary Lou Collette; and son-in-law Daniel Gawrysiak.

She is survived by two sisters, Josephine Johnson and husband Dimmit of Houston, and Thresa Maglitto and husband Angelo of Tomball; two daughters, Debra Spicer and husband Chuck of Oilfield, MO, and Donna Gawrysiak of (Cypress) Normangee; three sons, Kenny Bledsoe of Irving, Ricky Bledsoe and wife Kelli of Conroe, and Jeffery Bledsoe and wife Pamala of Ozark, MO; 8 grandchildren, Thurman(Bubba) Black, Larry Black, Dan Gawrysiak, Anna Bledsoe, Alayna Bledsoe, Dennis Bledsoe, Kristal Honeycutt and Carse Thompson; 6 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

The Bledsoe family has asked for Memorials be made to Ten Mile Cemetery c/o Jackie Watson 8414 FM 2289, Normangee, TX 77871 or Hospice Brazos Valley of Bryan 502 West 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803.