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Mary Frances
Carll
October 2, 1933 – May 21, 2026
Dignity Memorial Funeral Chapel
Starts at 1:30 pm (Central time)
Mary Frances Bond Carll, lovingly known to many as "BeBe," passed away on May 21, 2026, at the age of 92, following a head injury sustained in a fall. Born on October 2, 1933, in Navasota, Texas, Mary lived a life defined by faith, family, service, and an extraordinary capacity to love others.
Mary grew up in Rock Prairie, Texas, and graduated from College Station Consolidated High School. She spent more than twenty years in the Lake Jackson area before returning to College Station in 1984. In 2013, she moved to Columbus, Texas, where she resided until her passing.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Ross and Blanche Bond; her brothers, Ross "Gene" Bond and James "Jimmy" Bond; her husbands, Robert Carroll and Jim Carll; and her grandsons, Scott Vardeman and Brian Larson Obermeier. Also preceding her in death was her former spouse and father of her children, Bill Cooner.
She is survived by her daughters, Carol Cooner Vardeman (Terry) and Cathy Cooner Obermeier (Jim); her grandchildren, Sarah Obermeier McCulloch (Chris), Amanda Vardeman Landry (Derek), Ross Obermeier, and Mark Vardeman (Brenda); and her great-grandchildren, Sloan Landry, Sage Landry, Audrey McCulloch, and Weston McCulloch. She is also survived by her sister, Lillian Ruth Dann; sisters-in-law Mary Beth Bond and Mary Bond; numerous nieces and nephews; beloved stepchildren; and countless others whom she unofficially adopted and loved as her own.
A devoted Christian, Mary was actively involved in her church family throughout her life and was most recently a member of First Baptist Church of Columbus. Her faith guided every aspect of her life and was reflected in her servant's heart, generosity, and unwavering care for others. That same faith now gives comfort to those she leaves behind.
Throughout her professional life, Mary dedicated herself to education and the service of others. She worked as a secretary at Lake Jackson Intermediate School before joining Texas A&M University, where she served as an administrative assistant to several deans in the College of Education until her retirement.
Mary found joy in life's simple blessings. She loved gardening, volunteering at the Columbus Clothes Closet, cheering on Texas A&M athletics, and, above all, spending time with her family. Long before fitness walking became popular, Mary could often be found speed walking through her Lake Jackson neighborhood, reflecting her lifelong commitment to health, discipline, and self-care. Her home was a place of warmth and welcome, where the sweet tea was always ready, a meal was never far away, and the light was always on for anyone who needed a place to belong.
Mary was a Southern lady through and through, but she was also fiercely protective of the people she loved. Whether she was raising her family, driving grandchildren to activities, supporting friends through difficult times, or simply sharing coffee and conversation, she made everyone feel valued and cared for. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, strength, hospitality, and unconditional love that will continue through the generations she nurtured.
A Celebration of Life honoring Mary will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at
Dignity Memorial Funeral Chapel
2901 Texas Avenue South, College Station, Texas 77845.
A reception will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to:
St. Jude Organization
501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or
St. Anthony Catholic School, Paving the Way Fund
635 Bonham Street, Columbus, Texas 78934 or
to a charity of the donor's choice.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who loved Mary and whose lives were touched by her remarkable example. For family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers, Mary's message was simple: the light is always on.
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