Mary Pauline Vanham

Mary Pauline Stephens Vanham, 98 years of age, passed away peacefully at her home in

Lufkin, Texas on October 06, 2024.

Mary was a native Texan, born in Clyde, Texas on August 5, 1926, to George E. and Vivian

Stephens. She led an eventful and adventurous life as a child of the Great Depression,

moving many times in her younger childhood. Mary will always be remembered for her

deep-seated love of reading, and her quick wit and humor. Attending

everything from a one-room schoolhouse in California to graduating from Incarnate

Word Academy in Houston, Mary graduated from high school at 16, and was offered a

scholarship at Rice University to study Latin. Unfortunately, World War II intervened and

she quickly became a valued secretary in the Houston, Texas area, working for notable

law firms, brokers, and architects in the downtown area of the 1940’s.

After the war, Mary wed WO Smith of Austin, TX. They were married 26 years and had 3

children. After their divorce, Mary worked for the University of Texas at Austin in the

Computation Center for many years, where she met and married Joe Vanham of Uvalde,

Texas in 1973. They lived in Llano, where they owned and operated a small CPA business.

After retirement, they moved to Ingram, Texas, enjoying travel and his love of bridge

until Joe’s passing in 1992.

In 1994, Mary relocated to Austin, and later to New Braunfels, Texas. In 2018, she moved to

Lufkin to share life with her daughter, Janet, and son-in-law Buck. She loved living at

their small farm, watching the deer and birds, and spending time with her beloved little

Irish terrier, “Doc”.

Mary is survived by her children: Clayton Smith and wife, Anne Hyde-Smith; Janet Smith

Seals and husband, David Buck Seals; and stepson Mark Vanham and wife, Laura

Dabney-Vanham; grandchildren, Trent and Blake Smith; Lonnie Seals and wife, Donylle

Seals; Marcy Seals; and great-grandchildren, Nya and Bo Seals. She is survived by

numerous cousins, nieces and nephews whom she loved and doted on. It is agreed by all

that she will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a younger brother, and her youngest child,

Nancy Smith Russell. It was her expressed desire to be cremated and her ashes interred

beside her husband’s, Joe Vanham, gravesite in Uvalde, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials may be given to local libraries or charities of

your choice.

The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge Dr. Kindrell Tucker and Dr. Blaise

Ferraraccio for their kindness and thoughtful medical direction over the years. We also

wish to recognize Pinecrest Home Healthcare for their loving home care aides who

made it possible for Mary to remain at home in her later years, as well as Heart to Heart

Hospice Care for their compassionate care in her last few months.