Mary Allison (Defee) Sterner, beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister, passed away March 3, 2020 at the age of 41.
Mary was born and raised in Shreveport, LA where she enjoyed participating in choir, cheerleading and dance. She graduated from Captain Shreve High School in 1996. She moved to Houston in the late 1990’s where she attended Houston Baptist University from where she graduated with a degree in Christianity and Spanish. During the summer breaks she interned back at her childhood church Broadmoor Presbyterian in Shreveport as the Director of Youth Ministries. She was also a beloved member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
Mary loved church from an early age and continued serving God throughout her life - working for the Presbyterian Church for seventeen years directing religious education for children. She started at First Presbyterian Sugarland as the Director of Youth Ministries while in school. She then held the same position at First Presbyterian Huntsville from 2003 -2008. Mary’s devotion to God and her love of working with people of all ages, but especially children, touched and influenced many in their own faith journey. Mary took on a new position as the Director of Christian Formation at St. Johns Presbyterian in Houston happily serving youth and adults through the ministry. She worked briefly at Pines Presbyterian in Houston. She then transitioned to UIL Program Specialist in charge of academic meets for high school and middle school children for HISD.
Mary met her best friend and the love of her life, Sean, while working in Huntsville in 2007. After a lifetime of searching for both of them, Mary and Sean finally found each other. Both wounded hearts, when combined, formed each other’s true love and became indestructible with God’s blessing. Mary and Sean married in 2008 and eventually settled in the Baytown/Mont Belvieu area. They welcomed their first child, Mallory Allison in 2012 to be followed by their second daughter, Sloane Ella in January, 2020. Mary and Sean were so happy that their family was complete and often spoke of how blessed they were. Mary helped many in good times and bad, empathizing and showing God’s love through her words and comfort. Mary’s husband, children, family and friends know she is in the Hands of Providence with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and they will be forever grateful for her.
Mary is survived by her husband, Sean Walsh Sterner and their two daughters, Mallory Allison Sterner and Sloane Ella Sterner, her parents Robert and Donna Defee of Bastrop, LA, brother, Patrick Defee of Shreveport, LA, grandmother, Joy Defee of Bastrop, TX and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 13, 2020 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crespo & Jirrels Funeral Home at 6123 Garth Road, Baytown, TX. Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 1:00 PM at Faith Presbyterian Church, 3900 North Main Street, Baytown, TX.
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