Mary Ella (Spears) Read passed away on September 1, 2026, in Dallas, following a lengthy illness and a full life spent loving her husband of 57 years, James “Jim” Read, and her extended family.

Mary was born on January 8, 1935, in Grand Saline, Texas, the youngest of six children of cattle rancher and farmer M.J. Spears and his wife, Maudie, a teacher.

Mary graduated from Grand Saline High School in 1953, where she served as the band’s drum majorette all four years. She went on to graduate from North Texas State University in 1957 with a degree in education. A beautiful and graceful young woman, Mary also competed in and won several pageants during her college years.

Mary became an educator and spent her career teaching third- and fourth-grade students in several Texas cities, including Waco, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth.

Mary married the love of her life, Marine fighter pilot James Arthur “Jim” Read, on Valentine’s Day in 1969. The two had met while working at the Vought Aircraft Division of LTV Aerospace, where Jim was a test pilot and Mary worked as a secretary. Jim eventually became Chief Test Pilot and made more takeoffs and landings at Dallas Naval Air Station than any other pilot.

Their life together was filled with adventure. Mary skied for the first time on their honeymoon in Snowmass, Colorado, and enjoyed the sport on many vacations that followed. She loved to travel, and she and Jim saw much of the world together, including Paris, Vienna, Luxembourg, Switzerland, London, Berlin, Spain, Japan, Hong Kong, Morocco, Thailand and Portugal. Mary and Jim lived in Portugal for 14 months, adding an exciting chapter to their life together.

Mary found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved gardening, spending time in nature, caring for her beloved horse, Lady B, back in Grand Saline, and enjoying the companionship of cats. She also loved romantic comedies. Mary and Jim were lifelong Dallas Cowboys fans and were original seat-license holders at Texas Stadium.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, M.J. and Maudie (Bailey) Spears, and her five older siblings, all of whose first names began with “M” and who were each known by a nickname.

Her three brothers all served in the U.S. Army: Maurice “Whitey” and his wife, Henrietta “Hank”; Max “Pokey” and his wife, Loretta; and Marlin “Chubby” and his wife, Dorothy. She was also preceded in death by her two sisters, Maurine “Mimi” Waechter and her husband, Jake, and Marnell “Sarnie” McCoy and her husband, John “Jack.”

Mary was also close with Jim’s daughters from his previous marriage, including Debby (Read) Adams, who passed away before Mary; Leslie (Read) Whiston and her husband, Anthony; and Lynn (Read) Mills and her husband, Hunter. Jim and Mary have five grandchildren: Kristen (Read Evans) Hawley (husband George), Eric Evans (wife Ashton Downs), Read Mills (wife Aly Laroache), Katherine Mills, and Caroline Mills. They have seven great-grandchildren: Henry Hawley, Wyatt Hawley, Nina Hawley, Thomas Hawley, Tillman Evans, Theodore Evans and Poppie Evans.

Mary is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who looked forward to receiving calls and birthday cards from their beloved Aunt “Stuffy,” her childhood nickname.

Mary will be remembered for her beauty, warmth, kindness, love of family, and her zest for life. She cherished the life she shared with Jim and the many family members and friends whose lives she touched. Her memory will live on in the stories, traditions and love she leaves behind.