Mary Reynolds

On Sunday evening October 27th, 2024, our beautiful mother and everyone's sister in Christ, Mary Jo Lake Reynolds took her Lord and Savior's hand and entered the gates of Heaven. Her body healed and made whole, her eye sight restored, she saw the face of her Lord, Jesus Christ, who died for her. She experienced a great reunion with her family and friends that had proceeded her in death, especially her daddy, whom she had a special relationship with until his passing in 1974. She was known as Mom, Mary Jo, Mamaw, and Miss Mary to her many friends and family. She loved to cook, crochet and sew and used those talents to shower her family with meals, Seven Up cakes, baby blankets for grandkids and home decorations. She was a dietitian for West Rusk and Arp ISD for 17 years. She was a musician, having played the piano in her church for many, many years until her arthritic hands hurt too badly to continue. She loved playing and singing the old-time hymns for her brothers and sisters in Christ. When she could no longer play, she provided her church with her own grand piano to use so she could continue to hear it played. Music truly made her heart sing with JOY! In her later years she enjoyed living at Brookdale Senior Living Center in Tyler, where she was known as a great prayer warrior for everyone there and witnessed for Christ to all that met her, up until her death. She loved her dining hall crowd and knew everyone. They all knew Miss Mary and her sweet spirit, and she only missed seeing all of them for the last two days of her life. We all loved her dearly and will miss her strong will to serve her family and Christ, as well as her wisdom and sweet spirit.

Mary Jo was born October 31, 1932, in Navarro County, Texas, to Charles Otto and Leila Thelma Trull Anderson. Being born on Halloween, her Daddy called her his "Little Spook." She spent most of her life in the Kilgore and Overton, Texas area. She attended school at Salem, Elder, Kilgore and Sabine. She met a young sailor named James P. Lake in 1947 at a street dance on Beaton Street in Corsicana, Texas, and they were married later that year by her maternal grandfather, the Reverend William N. Trull on December 22nd, 1947. They spend 53 years together raising their family and being very involved with them before his death in 2000. Mary Jo remarried in 2002 to long time church friend, James Lee Reynolds of Omen, Texas, who became an instant loving member of our family. They celebrated 14 years together before his death in 2017.

Mary Jo is survived by her children, Deborah Jean Brasher and husband, Bill of Lake Striker; James Leslie Lake and wife, Carrie of Winona; Gary Wayne Lake and wife, Debbie of New London; grandchildren Dena Cloke Smith and Dalton, Lake Striker; Rhonda McLouth, Arp; Rae Jean Griffin, Arp; Justin Lake and Sara, College Station; Jerrod Lake and Lindsey, Emerald Bay; Jennifer Fulp and Cameron, Lindale; nephews Eric Anderson, Johnny Lake; nieces Sue Lake Brown and Kathren Lake Pipes; numerous cousins, as well as 14 great-grandchildren and 12 great, great-grandchildren.

Mary Jo was proceeded in death by her parents, Otto and Leila Anderson, brother Charles Anderson, husbands James Lake and James Reynolds, niece Kathy Anderson, grandson-in-laws Taylor Roach and James McLouth.

In lieu of flowers you may use the Cottle Funeral Home's website to donate to the First Baptist Church of Omen.

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