Mary Reinhard Peoples, who successfully raised two children and enjoyed a long marriage to a good man died on October 25, 2012 in Round Rock, Texas. Mrs. Peoples died peacefully in her sleep. She was 90 years old.

Mary was not average, by any measure. She often did and said exactly what she meant. Her sense of humor kept her and those around her laughing many times. She was smart, adventurous, and generally a lot of fun to be around.

Mary was born in Los Angeles on November 13, 1921, but she belonged to a large family of five children whose parents had homes in California, Texas, and Illinois.

Mrs. Peoples met her husband, Jim, when he called her a dumb female and she threatened to run over him in her brother's car. It was love at first sight. Separated by World War II, Jim wrote Mary over 150 letters and they married in 1944. They were married for 53 years before Jim's death in 1998.

Mary made a nice home for Jim and their two children, Kim and Jim. Mary was not the best cook in the world and was pretty happy when box cake mixes and TV dinners became popular in the 1950's. She was, however, an excellent seamstress. She made very stylish clothes for both herself and her daughter (whose idea of style did not exactly match her mother's).

Mary enjoyed camping vacations at Lake Buchanan with Jim and her children, loved doing crafts, and took great pleasure in gardening and watching birds and wildlife. She was also a great reader and enjoyed reading novels. Like many homemakers of her time, she was a also great fan of "As the World Turns."

Once her children left home, she became interested in and very knowledgeable about genealogy. She was a member of the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society and became the editor and the Book Committee Chairperson for the 1981 Montgomery County History book. She was very proud of this work. For many years, she volunteered and worked with the Montgomery County Library. Her genealogy book collection and records have been donated to the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society and will be curated by them and donated to the Montgomery County Genealogy Library at a presentation in March.

Mary will be missed by her daughter Kim Bacon and son-in-law, Kevin Bacon, of Austin, Texas; grandson William (Bill) Bacon of San Francisco, CA; and son Jim Peoples and daughter-in-law Shirley Peoples of Tyler, TX. She also became very close to her "Village People" family over the last year. Kim would like to thank the staff of University Village for the care and love they gave to her mom.

The Courier
October 28, 2012