 West Hill Cemetery Sherman, Texas    Sherman, Texas - Early on the afternoon of January 7, 2021, after a long and remarkable life as God's servant on earth, Dr. Mary L. Moses left our world to enter into His service in heaven. She was lifted up by the love and support of family who were with her at the time of her passing. At almost 93 years of age there were many family members preceding her who significantly influenced her life including her parents, Tom, Sr. and Eva Saffa; as well as her brother, Tom, Jr. and sister, Lillian "Lulu" Saffa. As a Sherman native, hundreds of family, friends, co-workers and nursing students claimed Mary changed their lives for the better by seeing her live up to her credo: "Do not harm, and do the greatest good." A Sherman legacy, she was highly regarded by all who knew her. Upon leaving high school in Sherman at 17 years old, and at the height of World War II, Mary applied, and was accepted to Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas, as a United States Army Nursing Cadet, where she would fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. She would ride the interurban train from Sherman to Waco until her graduation in 1947. She would later remark that though the Army taught them to march and salute, the Nuns at Providence Hospital taught them nursing, and no small amount of discipline! Later in life while touring the battlefields of Europe with her companion, Raymond Risk, Mary would lament the fact that she wasn't old enough back then to give comfort to these heroic souls. She was given that chance at a reception for World War II veterans, at an appreciation ceremony held at the White House. This experience counted among one of the highlight of her many special memories. Her nursing career began at Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, where she loved working in surgery and the delivery room. Becoming the nursing instructor there accomplished a goal she had dreamed of since the 4th grade. In 1965 she transferred the nursing school she had established at Wilson N. Jones to the new Grayson County Junior College, where it had become an institution carrying high academic standards. In 2019 the College of Nursing Program moved into her newly renovated building which was renamed The Dr. Mary L. Moses School of Health Sciences. At the dedication ceremony for the new building opening, Dr. Moses was overwhelmed, saying "The greatest honor now is offering a new degree, that of Bachelor of Science in Nursing." Retiring as Dean of Health Sciences in 1992, she worked until just recently as a member of the Board of Trustees. She was very proud and honored when she was approached by Sherman's Fire Marshall with the need of a First Responders certification training program in the community. She also traveled the country advising, inspecting and certifying schools and programs in the Health Occupational Field. In her retirement, her dedication to St. Mary's Parish in Sherman never ended. She would lead the committee to build the new St. Anne's Catholic Church, and guided the architects who would build the church. During this arduous task, she commented that she only had to fire one lazy architect, a decision which she didn't like having. Her greatest enjoyment was being part of the transformation of people, and by any extrapolation of math, she was our very own Florence Nightingale. She met many of her best buddies being a member of Sherman Altrusa Club, where she held the position of President. She was always present for the Tour of Homes which the Altrusa Club sponsored at Christmas time. She also served on the boards of the Texoma Blood Bank, House of Hope, and the Women's Crisis Center, just to name a few. In fact, at her retirement party, attended by hundreds, at Katy Depot in Denison, Texas, she was honored with accolades by members of the Texas State Legislature. Mary was an accomplished artist as well. Her watercolors were beautiful examples of landscapes and scenes from around our area, as well as from trips she had made throughout her life. Her niece, Tammy, remembers riding around the back roads of Sherman with her aunts, Mary (Aunt Moe) and Lillian (Lulu), taking pictures of possible subjects for her next paintings. In and out of the hospital during her declining years, she never failed to ask if her nurses were some of her graduates, always remembering them that she, too, was a nurse. Known by many names: Dr. Mary L. Moses, Mary Louise, Mary, Aunt Moe, and Posey, she is survived by her treasured sister, Joyce Shadid, and children, Brenda (Kendal) Wilson, Dr. Tad (Debbie) Shadid, Dr. Jeffrey (Renae) Shadid, of Oklahoma City; nephews, Richard Saffa, Tim (Cissy) Shaffa; and niece, Tammy Bergquist, of Sherman, Texas; and dozens of great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews, and Godchildren. Last Rites were administered by Father Martin Castaneda. Mass of Christian Burial was conducted by Father Martin Castandeda on Friday morning, January 15, 2021 at St. Anne's Church Catholic Church in Sherman, Texas. Pallbearers were great-nephews, Jeremy Kaminski of Sherman, Brent Wilson, Nathan Shadid and Kyle Combs of Oklahoma City, Joshua Bryant of Dallas, and Dr. Thadd Mick, of Portland, Oregon. Assistants to the Funeral Ritual of Mass were great nieces, Jennifer Bergquist, Brianna Wilson, Nicole Shadid, and Laney Combs. Mass of Christian Burial took place at West Hill Cemetery, where she was laid to rest next to her parents, brother and sister. In lieu of flowers, Mary wished donations be made to the Dr. Mary L. Moses Scholarship Fund at Grayson College or Saint Mary's Parish Scholarship Programs of Sherman. - - - Waldo Funeral Home West Hill Cemetery Elaine Nall Bay ©2021 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |