Mary Nelle Stedham

b. 16 September 1916, d. 8 February 2004
  • Mary Nelle Stedham was born on 16 September 1916 in Cotulla, LaSalle County, Texas.
  • Joseph Lee Stedham and Emma Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at 814 Woodlawn. Other members of the household included Mary Nelle Stedham, Joseph Lee Stedham Jr. and Emma Jean Stedham. Also in the household was Joseph's widowed sister Frances Hamberlin (age 45).
  • Joseph Lee Stedham and Emma Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at 814 Woodlawn. Other members of the household included Mary Nelle Stedham, Joseph Lee Stedham Jr. and Emma Jean Stedham. Also in the household was Joseph's widowed sister Frances Hamberlin (age 55).
  • She married Lex Ambrous Harp on 15 December 1935.
  • The following appeared on 6 June 1940 in the San Antonio Express: Joseph Lee Stedham Sr., 76, 814 West Woodlawn Avenue, died at a hospital here Wednesday. He was a native of Alabama and had lived here 22 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. [:CR;]      He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Emma Stedham; son, J. L. Stedham Jr; two daughters, Mrs. Jean Waterman and Mrs. L. A. Harp; brother, H. B. Stdham, all of san Antonio, and two sisters, mrs. Frances Hamberlin of san Antonio and Mrs. E. W. Saunders of Dallas. [:CR;]      Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon with Dr. Perry F. Webb officiating. Pallbearers will be L. D. Middleton; Frank Cunningham, Norman Scholl, J. A. Taylor, Gover Wells and Bob Haddon.
  • Mary Nelle Stedham became a widow at the 25 August 1999 death of her husband Lex Ambrous Harp.
  • Mary Nelle Stedham died on 8 February 2004 at age 87 in Hunt County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 11 February 2004 in the Kerville Daily Times: (San Antonio) Mary Nelle Stedham Harp of San Antonio and Kerrville, died Feb. 8, 2004, after a short illness. She was born Sept. 16, 1916, on the farm in Cotulla to Joseph L. Sr. and Emma Pegues Stedham, and grew up on Woodlawn Avenue in San Antonio. Her family history also includes the Alstons, Hutchings and Donelson families, who were instrumental in the early history of our country.
         She married Lex A. Harp on Dec. 15, 1935. They were married for 64 years, until he died in 1999. The Harps lived in Crystal City for many years where they owned the Business Equipment Co. and gift shop. The Lex Harp Combo, with Lex on the drums and Mary Nelle at the piano, was a favorite of South Texas for 50 years. The Harps will be remembered as hardworking and fun-loving contributors to the Crystal City community - "those dear hearts and gentle people who lived and loved in our home town."
         Mary Nelle began playing the piano at age 3 and had a special gift of music that was magic. Her personality and musical ability made many, many friends for a lifetime, and brought joy and laughter to all that she came in contact with. She loved people, was interested in everything, kept current with all her family and friends, and made many people feel loved. Lex and Mary Nelle Harp owned a picture frame shop in San Antonio in their retirement years. Her ability to help people with color and composition helped make the business a success, however, her real interest was in the people that they did business with, and she loved them all.
         Mary Nelle Harp was active physically and mentally until the day she died, having just played the piano for a friend. She will be greatly missed by her family.
         She is survived by children, Sherry Harp Hiller and husband, Delmar R. Hiller, of Hunt, Reed D. Harp, of San Antonio and Keith A. Harp and wife, Barbara, of San Antonio; also by grandchildren, Scott and Chris Hiller, of El Cajon, Calif., Dolph Hiller, of Orlando, Fla., Julie and Pepper Weatherly, of Salado, Hannah and Bruce Feller, of Comfort, Noah A. Harp, of San Marcos, Gray D. Harp and Wade S. Harp of Kerrville; also by great-grandchildren, Sherry Nicole Weatherly and P. Clayton Weatherly, of Salado, Elexie Ray Hiller, of Orlando, Jackson D. Hiller, of El Cajon and Cedric T. Bohnert, Callen E. Bohnert, and Cadyn Laura Feller, of Comfort; and by brother and sister-in-law, Del and Kay Harp, of Crystal City.
         Graveside services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at Edgewood Cemetery in Crystal City, Texas. Memorials may be directed to a charity of choice.
         Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Leonard Funeral Home Crystal City, Texas.
  • She was interred at Edgewood Cemetery, Crystal City, Zavala County, Texas.
  • Last Edited: 13 Dec 2016

Family: Lex Ambrous Harp b. 9 April 1913, d. 25 August 1999