Mary Catherine Roberts Massirer

Mary Catherine Roberts Massirer, 83, of Crawford, passed away Sunday, December 18, 2022. A service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Crawford, Texas with Pastor Tom Beers, Pastor Bill Metting, and Pastor Ron Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery. A visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 20 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco.

Mary was born May 22, 1939, in Waco, Texas, to parents, Dorothy Denny Roberts and Sam C. Roberts of Moody, Texas. She was raised in Moody and attended school there, graduating at the top of her class in 1957. She attended TCU for a year before transferring to Baylor to complete a B.A. with a major in English. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Baylor as well. She met Van Massirer while still in high school, and she and her family encouraged him to enroll at Baylor as well. She and Van married in June 1958 and enjoyed over 64 years of marriage and all the adventures that go along with it. Van was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force in 1962 and their assignments and travels took them to various places around the world, including Peshawar, Pakistan. Their daughter, Laura, was born while they lived in San Angelo and their son, Philip, was born two years later while they were stationed in Maryland. While Van was in the service, Mary taught English classes for San Angelo College, Howard Payne University, and University of Maryland.

In 1966, Mary began a 38-year career of teaching English composition and literature courses at Baylor, and she developed the technical writing program. She served as a Commencement Marshal for many years and was also a Bearer of the Mace.  She enjoyed working with incoming students as a faculty advisor during Summer Orientation. She was elected to the Faculty Senate and served on numerous departmental and university committees over the years. Mary also presented scholarly papers at professional conferences.

Mary was a lifelong learner and had a special interest in the Spanish language. She participated in study trips to Mexico and regularly sat in on classes taught by colleagues. She also enjoyed teaching English as a second language. She was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church for many years, serving on the church council and the pastoral call committee. Mary played piano and church organ, and was very adept at a number of creative hobbies such as crocheting, knitting, and baking. She and Van enjoyed several international trips to destinations such as Europe, British Isles, Scandinavia, Mexico, and Canada.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Van; daughter, Laura Massirer Scott; son, Philip Massirer, and wife, Jill; sister-in-law, Becky Lopez, and husband, Michael; brother-in-law, Burney Baize; grandchildren, Daniel Massirer and wife, Jordan, Mary Elizabeth, Anna, Joe, and Esther Massirer, and Alex Scott; as well as many special cousins and other extended family.

Pallbearers will be Mary’s six grandchildren, Daniel, Mary Elizabeth, Anna, Joe, Alex, and Esther.

In lieu of flowers, Mary’s wishes were that memorials be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 140 Prairie Chapel Road, Crawford, TX 76638 or to the Canaan Baptist Cemetery Association, c/o Donna Grimestad, P.O. Box 664, Hewitt, TX 76643.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.