Obituaries

Mary Jane Praetz “MJ”, 68, of Sherman, Texas, passed away on March 22, 2017 in Sherman, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday March 28, 2017 at Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman. Burial will follow at Carson Cemetery in Ector, Texas. Arrangements are by Dannel Funeral Home. MJ was born in Dublin, Ireland on October 30, 1948. She was adopted by Mary Ethyl and Joseph Henry Praetz in 1950. Her sister, Susan and her brother Joe were adopted at the same time from Ireland. Mary Ethyl and Joseph divorced in 1955 and Mary Ethyl moved to Sherman. The family lived in Sherman until MJ was 13 years old. After living in Baltimore Maryland, Falls Church Virginia and Dallas Texas, MJ returned to Sherman to assist and travel with her mother, Mary Ethyl. She was a loyal, loving and entertaining companion. Her sense of humor is legendary. She loved being a part of the community in Sherman and volunteered her time with a civic focus including being Santa Claus at local care centers. MJ was a gifted writer of poems and stories. She loved animals and especially her cat “Spencer”. She had a passion for reading classical books, music, movies, crossword puzzles, Ireland, Abraham Lincoln and American history. Her world was filled with Barbara Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland and the love for her country, family, neighbors and friends. MJ was a warrior for human rights and for the freedom to be who you are. She lived her life with simplicity, humor, intensity, strength and compassion. In her 40’s MJ wrote a letter to her Mother on Mother’s Day thanking her for her “wisdom, generosity of love and spirit - Through you I have learned that I don’t have to have a career to be accomplished or happy. So I’ve claimed life as my career.” And no one knew the spectrum of life better than her. MJ was always MJ and her legacy will live on in all who knew her. MJ is preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ethyl Praetz, her father Joseph Henry Praetz and her Grandmother, Ethyl Hodges Hudspeth. MJ is survived by her brother, Joe Praetz and his wife Mary Lee; her sister Sue Fry and her husband Russel, Nephews Eren & Family, Brendan, Patrick Fry and Niece Caitlin Fry and numerous cousins. Memorials may be given to: ARF House 3377 Spalding Road Sherman Texas 75092 The family of Mary Jane Praetz wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all of her medical professionals, caregivers, responders and friends in the Sherman area and especially the staff at Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center and Dannel Funeral Home.