Dates
Mary Fleming Kennemer died January 25, 2016 at her home in San Angelo, Texas. She was born in Beaumont, TX on February 22, 1919 to Joseph Vandiver Fleming and Kaziah Heflin Fleming of Austin. She married M.D. (Don) Kennemer, Jr. December 3, 1938, when they were both seniors at the University of Texas. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. They moved to San Angelo in June 1939 where Don Kennemer joined his father in ice manufacturing and ranching. Mary Kennemer was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church. She served as a volunteer and board member of the following community organizations: including Civic Theatre Native Plant Society, Meals for the Elderly, Girl Scout leader, San Angelo Symphony Guild, Hospice of San Angelo, mentor for Edison Junior High School, Concho Valley Archeological Society, San Angelo Nature Center and West Texas Rehabilitation. She was a member of the board of directors of the Young Women’s Service League when it was chartered as the Junior League of San Angelo. She was honored by the San Angelo Schools Foundation as an angel in 2004.
Mary Kennemer’s twenty year professional career included Director of Volunteer Services at McKnight Tuberculosis Hospital, Carlsbad, TX; Showroom Manager for Hard Manufacturing Co. Regional Office, Dallas; Executive Director of El Camino Girl Scout Council, San Angelo, and Volunteer Coordinator and Public Information Officer for San Angelo Center, Carlsbad, TX. She retired in 1981. Mary’s family and friends were always her greatest joy. The celebration of the lives of her family and friends and beauty was her trademark. She enjoyed all forms of the Arts. Until her severe loss of hearing, music, especially opera, was one of her greatest pleasures. She was an enthusiastic gardener and had lifelong interest in wildflowers, native plants and herbs. Until recently she had an active part in the management of her family owned Tom Green County ranch.
Proceeding her in death were her parents, husband, brothers, Dr. Joe V. Fleming, C.C. (Pat) Fleming, and J.H. Fleming, and sisters, Mrs. James Weldon Thomas, Mrs. Charles S. Coates and Mrs. A.A. (Albert) Pinnelli.
She is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-laws, Kay Kennemer of San Angelo, Julie and Carl Brugger of Granite Shoals and Donna and Richard Crisp of San Angelo. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and their families, Mary Helen and husband, Danny Gonzales of San Angelo, Michael Crisp of San Angelo, John Crisp of San Angelo, Rebecca Tortorelli of Redondo Beach, CA, David Brugger and wife, Judith of San Diego, CA, Kenneth Hepner and wife, Deanna of Midland, Angela and husband, Douglas Garlington of Midland and Danne and husband, Mark Coffman of Lubbock; great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in San Angelo, TX on Saturday, February 6, 2016.