Mary Lou Edmondson

A Life of Love and Kindness

Mary Lou Shimp Edmondson, 94, of Belton, Texas, passed away at a Temple hospital.

The family will receive friends for visitation Friday, September 4, 2026 from 5:30-7:30PM at Dossman Funeral Home. Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, 11:00AM-12:00PM at Blanco Cemetery, 401 Chandler Street, Blanco, Texas 78606.

Mrs. Edmondson was born on August 28, 1932 in Moundsville, West Virginia to Marion and Lillian (Kimple) Shimp. She met “Sonny” James J. Edmondson, Sr., a Texan working an oil pipeline. They were married on October 18, 1952 in Texarkana, Texas.

Mrs. Edmondson was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, “Sonny” James J. Edmondson, Sr. and daughter “Suzie” Deborah Susan Edmondson Kasler.

She is survived by three daughters, "Kitty" Kathryn Lou Edmondson Palmer; "Janey " Rebecca Jane Edmondson Byers; "Patty" Patricia Dianne Edmondson Bassa Hileman; three sons, "Sonny" James Edmondson Jr; Ralph Edmondson; Mark Edmondson; 21 grandkids; 24 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is especially thankful to granddaughter Hannah Linder who was Mary Lou's faithful caretaker, friend, and companion.

There are no words big enough to describe how much our mother, grandmother and friend meant to us. She loved her family with her whole heart, and there was never a question of whether you were loved by her, you simply knew. Her love was steady, unconditional, and always there, no matter how much time had passed or how many miles separated us.

She had a way of making everyone feel like they belonged. It didn't matter where you came from, where you lived, or where life was taking you. If you walked through her door, you were welcomed with her warm smile, a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. Her home was always a place where you could come as you were, sit down, have a cup of coffee, and know that you were loved.

She found so much happiness in the little things. We will remember her with a book in her hands, working through her puzzle books, reading and enjoying her coffee, tending to her garden, or baking something for the people she loved. We can picture her outside with her beloved cat, Skoshi, watching the birds and enjoying the sunshine. And, of course, we will always remember her shuffling around the house, finding one more thing that needed to be done.

Gardening was especially close to her heart. As a Master Gardener for many years, she loved growing new things and learning along the way. She had the patience to plant something small and nurture it until it became something beautiful. In many ways, that was how she lived her life too, she nurtured the people she loved, helped them grow, and gave them the kind of love that stayed with them long after they left her home.

She was loving and gentle, but she could also be stern when she needed to be. Those who knew her best understood that even when she was giving you "that look" or telling you what you needed to hear, it always came from a place of love. She cared deeply, and she wasn't afraid to show it.

She loved every member of her family fiercely. It didn't matter if you lived down the road or across the country. She carried you in her heart all the same. She remembered you, worried about you, prayed for you, celebrated you, and loved you. That was simply who she was.

To her children and grandchildren, she was so much more than a mother and grandmother. She was a safe place. She was comfort. She was a familiar voice, a warm hug, a kiss on the cheek, and the feeling of being home. She gave us memories we will carry for the rest of our lives, and pieces of her that will live on in each of us. She gave love freely and never asked for anything in return.

She always opened her home and her heart. She was truly an angel here on Earth.

Forever in our hearts.