Mary S. Hiebert entered the presence of her beloved savior Christ the Lord early on Tuesday, May 2, 2017; born in 1921. She was 91 years old when she went from this earthly robing room to the heavenly graduation stage to receive her “ Well done my good and faithful servant”, diploma.

Blessed to have been brought up by parents, J.M. and Maggie Sway, who themselves were faithful children of God, Mary had the foundation and teaching from which she knew she would be encouraged to follow the Lord in life.

Having met and five weeks later marrying Abe F. Hiebert at the end of 1945, they began their family, that by the middle of 1954, became a total of five.

After becoming members of Wooster Baptist Church, Mary sang in the church choir and led girls in mission study, encouraging them to follow the Lord’s call on their lives, as she and Abe did with their own three children.

Mary, having had an urging from the Lord to go on a church mission trip to the Rio Grande River Valley, began talking to Abe about being a part of the group going on the trip. This was like pulling teeth! He, a frugal man, could not see spending vacation time and money to go on a mission trip.  The Lord’s will came to pass and they went.  Abe almost instantly came to know the joy of the Lord in the journey with Jesus and in his work. To enhance the experience, Mary began taking Spanish classes at Lee College, which she used as the translator for the voting poll at Travis Elementary School as well as on mission trips.

In later years, Mary and Abe served in the Mission Service Corps out of the San Jacinto Baptist Association. Being on mission until her last days, Mary would ask her doctors, nurses, and at the Nursing and Rehab Center, as well, “Have you made a profession of faith in Christ; God’s only born son, and trusted your life over to Him?” She would still ask you today.

Mary was preceded in departure from an earthly body by her husband, Abe; parents, J.M. and Maggie Seay; brother, William Seay; and sister and brother-in-law, Clyde and Elsie Powell. Mary is survived by her sisters, Bonnie Malloy and Martha Pierce; and brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Betty Seay; and sister-in-law, Ruby Seay.

Mary’s children are Linda (Ray) Leatherwood, David (Wanda) Hiebert and Roger (Janet) Hiebert.  She dearly loved her grandchildren, Bret (Teresa) Leatherwood, Rex (Leah) Hiebert, Scot (Monica) Hiebert, Alexis (Rusty) Dawson, Christy (Clint) Shirley, Heather (Billy) Hughes, Jennifer (Warren) Graham, and Tarah Fries. Mary also had a special place in her heart for her great grands, Brittany Leatherwood, Erika (Alex) Barton, Haley Leatherwood, J.R. Rowland, Joshua and Evan Hiebert, Denise (Kyle) Williams, Chris, Cody, Candice and Tyler Dawson, Zachary and Aiden Williams, AbeRee, Kylie and Harley Hiebert, and Aaralynn Graham,  Kaiden Williams, and Kaiden, Kaisen and Addisyn Fries. The Lord added two special favors as great-great grandsons, Adam and Collin Holley, plus another grandchild on the way.

Her family would like to let you know that we thank the staff of San Jacinto Methodist Hospital and ER; Baytown Nursing and Rehab Center; Harbor Hospice; Lincare, Inc.; and Mary’s dear friends at Bayview Home Health Services.  All of you blessed her with kindness and caring caregiving.

A visitation will be held at 10 A.M. on Monday, May 8, 2017, at Crespo & Jirrels Funeral Home, with services at 11:00 A.M.  A private burial will follow at 12:00 P.M.  Honoring the family as pallbearers will be Mike Powell, Rusty Dawson, Bret Leatherwood, AbeRee Hiebert, Zachary Williams and Rex Hiebert.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, those desiring may make donations, in Mary’s memory, to Wooster Baptist Church of Baytown or Camp Tomahawk Baptist Encampment in Livingston, Texas.

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