Mary Lou Fox

Mary Lou (McCaleb) Fox, of Cedar Hill and formerly of Jacksonville, passed away at the nursing home in Midlothian,on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at age 103.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Thornton Cemetery.

Mary Lou was born on October 29, 1922, to George Harvey McCaleb and Sophie Etta McCaleb in Reagan, TX. She was next to the oldest of ten siblings, and grew up in Kosse, where she graduated from high school.

Mary Lou was united in marriage with Don L. Fox, from Thornton, and they were the parents of five children. Don’s work in different careers took them to various towns to live throughout their marriage, with Mary Lou’s favorite homes being in Irving and especially while they lived in Palestine.

She was a faithful, loving, wife, who supported her husband in all his endeavors, and a wonderful mother and grandmother. She liked to travel in their younger years, and became a widow when Don passed away when he was 55. She loved family, and enjoyed when all the family could be together. Family reunions every year were very important, both for her family in Kosse or the Fox family in Thornton, and she continued to attend until the past few years.

Mary Lou was an incredibly knowledgeable lady. She loved reading, and kept her house full of books stored everywhere, and also read several newspapers daily. She was interested in history, especially Texas history, and most devoted to family history. She had an exceptional memory and could speak of new events as well as old memories until the last few years of her long life.

Mary Lou loved flowers. She planted and tended to many kinds all around her property. She stayed tough and led an active life, including mowing her yard and tending to her home for many years, but at age 95 she suffered a severe injury from a fall, tripping over her water hose. She endured surgery and spent the remainder of her years in the nursing home, where she continued to enjoy reading until she lost her sight earlier this year. She did worry late in life who would take care of the family history she had compiled.

She was visited every day in the nursing home by her daughter Mary Lou, or when she couldn’t be there, her son-in-law Steve was there, and she looked forward to the visits from Lyndon and Stuart Ann when they could make the long trip from their home. Also, she enjoyed the many visits from a family friend, Gary Vaughan, who became like an adopted son, visiting her when he was in town and always bringing her a treat. She was also treated very kindly by many of the nursing home staff.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don L. Fox; sons, Jerry Fox and Dale Fox; daughter, Barbara Johnston; 1 grandson, Jason Fox, and her five brothers and five sisters.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Lyndon and Stuart Ann Fox of Brownfield, and her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lou and Steve Congleton of Cedar Hill; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.