Obituary of Mary Hartman

Mary Caroline Palmer Hartman joined her heavenly choir on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017. She joins her husband, Larry Ross Hartman, whom she married in 1954 in the town of her birth, Battle Creek, Michigan, where she was born on January 13, 1939. They had two sons, John Scott and William Ross, who survived her; her granddaughters: Jennifer, Alishia, Caroline, and Mandy; as well as three great-granddaughters.

Mary graduated with a B.M. and M.A. in music from Western Michigan University, where she joined Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity. Her love of music performance continued throughout her life.  Upon graduation, she began 13 years of music teaching at Allegan (MI) High School, and 4 years as a vocal music instructor at her Ala Mater, WMU. She joined and performed many years with Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, and Allegan Community Theatre. Following her years of teaching music, she worked at Old Kent Bank.

As Choir Director, she led the music program at Otsego United Methodist (MI) for 17 years.

In 2000, Mary and Larry retired to Laguna Vista, Texas. She was a founding member of El Paseo Arts Foundation, serving as Chairman/President for many years. Her love of the arts continued as she served as director, assistant, and musician for their productions. She was also instrumental in the development and opening of the Laguna Madre Art Gallery in Port Isabel. In later years she also sang with the Valley Voices Chorale of Port Isabel.

Mary retired last year as Choir Director for First United Methodist Church of Port Isabel, where a brief service of memorial will be held on September 3rd, following the regular 9:30 am service. Her love of music and performance remained to her last days.

You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Mary Caroline Palmer Hartman at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.