Mary Hyden Hunter

“There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, that light remains.” The world lost a beloved mother, Mary Hyden Mann Hunter, 68, suddenly, on Friday, October 29, 2021, in Canyon Lake, Texas. Hyden’s greatest love was her family, and all her children were so proud to call her mom. Funeral services will be Monday, November 8, at 1:00 pm at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, with Rev. Samantha Smith officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, November 7, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Hyden was born August 16, 1953, in Woodville, Texas, to Robert Allen Mann, and Mary Louise Myers Mann. She was a 1971 graduate of The Hockaday School, Dallas, Texas, and a 1975 graduate of Baylor University in Waco, Texas with her bachelor’s in business administration. She married Joe Aigner Hunter on September 21, 1975, and had three loving children. Hyden was a princess in the Tyler County Dogwood Festival in 1970, a princess in The Waco Cotton Palace Pageant in 1971 and a Hedonia Club of Waco debutante in 1972. Hyden was a member of the Junior League of Waco, where she served as chairman in 1987. She was granted the title of Dame by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1988. Hyden was also a member of the Historic Waco Foundation and The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Hyden proudly joined the YWCA in 1989 as volunteer bookkeeper, worked her way up to accountant for both the YWCA and YMCA, saved a hard drive from the Y as it burned, became Chief Financial Officer, oversaw the renovation of the Waco Family YMCA and the building of the new Doris Miller YMCA branch, and retired as the Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Central Texas in 2005. After trying out the farm life for a few years, Hyden moved to Canyon Lake, Texas where she opened Canyon Aviation Group at New Braunfels Regional Airport. She served as Owner and Chief Financial Officer where she hangered celebrity jets, where music videos and a commercial for Porsche were filmed, and where she even met Astronaut Charlie Duke, the youngest man to walk on the moon. She was also the President and CEO of Team Hunter Limited. Hyden was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waco, Texas. Whether you called her Mary Hyden, Hyden, Mimi, or mom, she was the best of the best to all she knew. When asked to describe Hyden, those closest to her found the words brave, courageous, strong, bubbly, successful, fierce, beautiful, caring, kind, and cheerful. She would light up a room whenever she entered it and made an impact on every life she touched. She lived a life of service and charity and loved The Lord with everything she had. The light of her life were her children and grandchildren, and they already miss their “Mimi” so much. She was a role model, a leader, a philanthropist, a successful businesswoman, and a proud Christian who led with tenacity and pride, and her memory will live on forever. Hyden was also an avid gardener who planted 1,500 Caladium bulbs each year and never met a pecan she didn’t want to pick up. Her children cherish the memories of picking blackberries, scratches and all, and helping mom can preserves, chasing random fires when we saw smoke, rolling down the ramp at the Y in office chairs, trips to the beach, late night talks on the porch, weddings and births, and so many more memories. She gave us a lifetime of happiness. We only wish we could have one more phone call, one more hug. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25 She was preceded in death by her son, Robert Aigner Hunter; mother, Mary Louise Mann; father, Robert Allen Mann; and son-in-law, Adam Blake Therrell, Sr. She is survived by her children; daughter, Julia Barclay Hunter Therrell, of Dallas; son, George Bender Hunter, Sr., and wife, Arundel, of Dallas; brothers, David Wake Mann and wife, Jackie, of Waco, and Allen Barclay Mann and wife, Teitsa of Dallas; grandchildren, Caroline Elizabeth Therrell, Adam Blake Therrell, Jr. (AJ), George Bender Hunter, Jr. (Ben), and Eleanor Blythe Hunter, all of Dallas; former husband, Joe Aigner Hunter; mother-in-law, Mary Frances Hunter; nieces, Jennifer Katherine Mann of Dallas, and Rebecca Mann Wright and husband, Lance of Waco; nephews, David Perry Mann, II and wife, Megan of Denver, Colorado; and Patrick Barclay Mann, Robert Stratton Mann, and Hayden Delozier Mann, all of Dallas. She is also survived by her great-nieces and great-nephews, relatives and extended family, her YMCA family, as well as many other great friends and all those who were blessed to have known her. “Some people only walk this earth for a short time. Their departure reminds us that angels are watching over us always.” We love you mommy to the moon and back times infinity squared. Pallbearers will be George Bender Hunter, David Perry Mann, II, Robert Stratton Mann, Lance Wright, Mark Thomas Brantley, Paul Anthony Marmesh, and Forest Beau Swann, MD. Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons, Adam Blake Therrell, Jr. (AJ) and George Bender Hunter, Jr. (Ben). Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 515 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas. "It's not the length of life, but the depth of life." - Ralph Waldo Emerson