Mary Lou McKissick

Funeral services for Mary Lou McKissick, 92, of North Richland Hills, Texas, are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills. There will be a visitation at the church beginning one hour before the service. Burial will take place at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Nana’s Story

Everyone remembers Mary Lou, also known as Nana, for her smile that made her eyes sparkle. Hers was a life of service, music and singing. As an accomplished piano player and singer, she shared those gifts by teaching piano lessons, or singing with her family and church, and most memorably, harmonizing as one of the four “Famous Stach Sisters” at all those family reunions. She was even fluent in Sign Language, interpreting for the deaf at church service ensuring the Gospel was accessible to everyone. She was also the perfect hostess whose door was always open to guests or strangers. Whether it was a large family reunion or a single church friend, her hospitality made everyone feel like they belonged.

Speaking of that smile, she was even spotted taking naps in church during Joe’s sermons but somehow kept wearing that infamous smile. It was just a sweet testament to her spirit and her lifelong, front-row support of Papa Joe.

While her life was filled with joy, it was also tempered by loss. There were times when the smiles were hard to find following the loss of her son, Joe B., at the early age of twenty-five. While nothing could ever truly compare to that pain, Nana’s servant’s heart only grew deeper into the Joy of Caregiving for her parents. For twenty years, she considered it a privilege to care for her parents in her home, providing them with love and joy in their final years.

But her early story began in Cleveland, Oklahoma, born in 1934. Mary Lou grew up happy, with a vibrant spirit, spending her school years as a majorette, leading their marching band while twirling a baton. However, her life’s path was set at the young age of eleven when she met a young visiting song leader and preacher named Joe McKissick. Instantly she was smitten during his short visit and even made sure to hold his hand when she could. Years later, that early connection blossomed into a deep romance, leading to their marriage in 1952 in Whiteface, Texas. Though she was only eighteen and he was twenty-six, they embarked on a missionary journey that would span their sixty-four years of marriage.

Instead of the traditional college path she had originally planned, their ministry took them across the globe for decades. They began their missionary calling in South Africa in 1954 where they spent eight years building a new church family. Then returned to Texas working with Webb Chapel Church of Christ in Farmers Branch through 1970. But always adventurous, the family moved north to Vancouver, British Columbia, spending the next seven years establishing a new congregation before moving back to Texas again. They served nine memorable years with Eldridge Road Church of Christ in Sugar Land until 1986. Finally, a short two years with Garden Ridge Church in Lewisville, where she also worked as a realtor, which she loved and so enjoyed helping people.

Their final stop was ACU 1988 where they served for sixteen years. Mary Lou began working in the Graduate Bible Department mentoring young bible students with her life experience. She soon started sitting in on Dr. Siebert's bible classes, who said, “she should take these classes for college credit hours.” So, she did, and after eight years she had achieved her college dream by walking across the stage to receive a bachelor’s degree in 2007, at the very young age of seventy-two. This day was made even more special by graduating alongside her first grandson, Jeremy, which made the local news.

In their retirement, they began a new season of life in North Richland Hills, living with their daughter, Sherry, and her husband, Howard, along with Mary Lou’s older sister, Aunt Lee. For twelve years, this was their home where they attended and served Legacy Church of Christ. They remained a family through Papa Joe’s passing nine years ago at age 90, and her sweet sister Aunt Lee who passed only last year at 104 years old.

Ultimately, Nana’s true passion was her family. Her life revolved around her three children, Sherry, Joe, and Jim, who were her greatest pride … alongside their spouses Howard, Debbie, and Patricia, who brought her so much delight. Her family continued to bloom with her six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. But who could ever forget those many years of Nana Camp hosting her six grandchildren every summer. The grandkids still laugh about her repetitive storytelling, so much so that they eventually assigned each of her stories a number; thus, Nana only had to call out a number for the kiddos to remember exactly which story was being "told” again and again and again.

She was certainly the heart of our family and many other families until the very end, leaving behind fond memories of her love, music, and service.

"From the marching bands of Oklahoma to the mission fields of the world, Nana’s life was a song of devotion, punctuated by a smile that will live on in all of us."

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to the Joe McKissick Endowed Scholarship in Gerontology at https://bit.ly/MckissickScholarship.