Mary Linda James

November 11, 1953 - April 24, 2020

Mary Linda Montague – James passed away unexpectedly in Houston, Texas at the age of 66. Mary is survived by her two daughters and husbands Malinda and Dick Gonzalez, Kari and Mark Albright; grandchildren Abigail Gonzalez, Ashlynne Slater, Jayden Slater, Nathaniel Gonzalez, and Logan Albright; her sister Marlene Slade; and four nieces and a nephew. Mary Linda Montague - James is preceded in death by her daughter Kelly Marie Rathbun, mother and father Helen and Howard Montague, sister Bonnie Pennell, and brother Henry Holmes. Our family is comforted in knowing that heaven gained another angel, and that she is surely dancing up there with her sweet daughter Kelly. Mary was born in November, 1953 in East Aurora, New York to Howard and Helen Montague. She graduated from East Aurora High School, 1971, New York. Followed by attending Bryant & Stratton Business Institute, Inc., 1972 she graduated with a Medical Secretarial Diploma. After moving to Houston, Texas, Mary began working as a medical transcriptionist. She welcomed her first child, Kelly Marie into her home in 1978 prior to moving to Houston, Texas. A short time later Mary welcomed two more children into her family in 1984 and 1985 and dedicated her time to teaching them love and patience. Mary’s children remember her as a kind, gentle, patient, and driven mother who encouraged them to pursue their goals. Malinda and Kari credit their mother for the strength and compassion she had shown through the 12 years she had been blessed to raise Kelly before her daughter’s passing in 1991. Her unyielding strength and commitment to providing the absolute best care to her children makes the title of “superwoman” an understatement. The ultimate bond between Mary and Kelly transcended beyond the limits of time and continues to bring comfort to the family that these two angels have now been reunited in heaven. Mary’s infinite love has inspired Kari and Malinda to embody the same qualities and continue her legacy of caring for others. Mary was a devoted mother and showed grace, wisdom and unconditional love which they have now instilled in their own children. Her life was a living example of one of her favorite Bible verses, 1 Corinthians 13:13 - “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Mary was an individual who was passionate about making her friends and family feel loved and uplifted by her faith in God. She would listen to anyone who needed an ear and offer any support or advice to get them through their difficult times. She was a cheerleader to her children and grandchildren and adored listening to their goals and seeing their accomplishments. Her grandchildren will treasure the special moments they shared with their “Grammy” and hold her in their hearts forever. Mary loved to bake and was an exceptional cook. She enjoyed painting and designing creative home decor. Some of our fondest childhood memories circulate on her talent for interior design. She learned many skills from her father and loved teaching those skills to her children and grandchildren. She especially looked forward to making Christmas cookies with her children and grandchildren every year. These special memories will live on forever in our hearts and continue to be the stories that ring in our homes and hearts for generations to come. Mary shared her affection for animals throughout her life, especially with providing a loving home for rescued pets to thrive. Her dog Rocky has been her service animal and proud companion for many years. She would often say that they had truly rescued each other and while giggling, she mused that his personality was always that of an old friend. Mary will always be remembered for her charming wit and endearing stories. Our mom was one of the most intelligent women we’ve ever known. Within moments of hearing symptoms of sickness with her grandchildren, she would effortlessly guide us with the perfect remedy and steps for healing. We were always so amazed with just how she always knew the perfect thing to say or do. Not only was her medical knowledge and attention to detail almost parallel to that of a team of doctors, but her ability to troubleshoot car problems and hook up any type of technology was also incredible. How can one put into words the lifetime of wisdom and unconditional love that our mother embodied? There are countless memories of her uplifting spirit that touched so many lives and influenced timeless traditions in our growing family. The devotion to her children has been the thread of strength that has bonded our hearts forever in her memory. The family would like to thank everyone for their condolences and support during this time. All services for Mary will be by invitation only.