Mary Lou Alcorn

Mary Lou Alcorn, 96, flew away to her final resting place on Tuesday January 2, 2024.  Born Sept. 4, 1927 in Midland, Texas to Holly E. Roberts and Lula (Wells) Roberts, she grew up in the El Paso Lower Valley and graduated from Ysleta High school in 1945.   She worked at Zork Hardware prior to marrying James H. Alcorn on Oct. 16^th 1947, had 2 sons, Jim Jr. and Bill and became a full-time mom.  When her sons were older, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree at UTEP in the early 70’s and taught science, primarily geology, at Austin High School. She loved her students and they were very fond of her as evidenced by the numerous times she, or her family, encountered any of her ex-students. Which happened often and still does! She retired in 1983 to have more time to spoil her grandkids, or as she called them, The Fabulous Four. 

Mary Lou loved the outdoors: hiking, hunting for rocks, fossils, artifacts, rock art, etc., even off-roading in her earlier years. She collected antiques (and a lot of other things) and was an avid quilter, gardener, and birder even as her health and eye sight failed.  Binoculars helped her see even to the point of watching her grandkids’ sporting events, graduations, etc. “Grandmaw”, as she was called, even by those who weren’t family, was a loving and supportive mom, grandmother and great grandmother.  Her family meant everything to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and 4 younger siblings.

She is survived by her youngest sister, Billie Jones, of Tennessee, her oldest son Jim (Mary), grandchildren Kim Kershner (Mike) and Trey Alcorn (Chaille); her youngest son, Bill, grandchildren Beth Harris (Lane) and Jill Alcorn; and six great grandchildren, Lane & Lauren Harris, Logan Kershner and Desi, Guini and Lachlan Alcorn.

Mary Lou and her family would like to thank all her friends, healthcare professionals and caregivers for their efforts in taking care of her.

A graveside service will be held at 9:00 am Tuesday January 9, 2024 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.  Services are entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home – West, 480 N. Resler Dr.