Mary Sue Pool

Mary Sue Pool, 97, of Navasota, passed away Friday, October 14th, at her home surrounded by her family. Visitation with family and friends will be Wednesday, October 19th, at First Baptist Church of Navasota beginning at 10:00 AM. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Clyde Larrabee officiating. Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

Mary Sue, affectionately known as Susie, was born and raised in Navasota to E.H. and Hallie Bolton Foerster on October 5, 1925, along with her three brothers. She attended Navasota schools and was baptized in her beloved First Baptist Church, where she remained a lifelong member. Throughout her many years at the church, she was active in the Women’s Missionary Union, the church choir, the nursery and her dear Sunday school class as well as countless committees.

Upon graduating from Navasota High School in 1943, she attended Draughn’s Business School in Houston, Texas. She then married Fred Claire Johnson in 1945, and the couple moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana. After one short year of marriage, Fred was tragically killed, and Mary Sue returned to Navasota, where she lived with her family and worked for Gulf States Utilities. Shortly after moving home, she was reacquainted with Lloyd Pool, who would become her beloved husband of 67 years. Susie is survived by her four children: Hallie Dee Goodman and husband Don, Sue Vivian Webb, John Lloyd Pool and wife Jana, and Ann Lockett Pool.

In 1975, when her youngest started school, she began a new job as registrar at John C. Webb Elementary School on Neal St., where she eventually retired in 1989. She loved working with the students and made life-long friends with faculty and staff.

Susie will be remembered for her sense of humor and love of people. She loved to entertain and used her creativity to make any occasion– great or small– special. She knew how to celebrate! Susie never met a stranger and was loved by all she came in contact with, always inquiring if they had a church and if not, inviting them to hers. Her church meant everything to her, and when she could no longer attend (at age 95) she remained in contact with Sunday School members as well as old friends and many of her children’s friends by telephone.

She also had many favorite T.V. pastors that she listened to regularly as well her favorite game shows, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Susie was a devoted mother to her four children and was considered a second mother to so many others. Her legacy also includes eight grandchildren: Suzanne Goodman, Ryan Goodman and wife Winda, Sue Ellen von Merz and husband Carl, Hallie Mancuso and husband Cory, Jay Pool and wife Mary Leigh, Ashlyn Hand and husband Mark, Jessica Tucker and husband Chris, Joleigh Parker and husband Colton as well as thirteen great-grandchildren: Hudson and Forest Goodman; Carl, Johnny, Luke, Thomas and Susanna (Susie) von Merz; Claire, Blake and Reid Mancuso; Emerson and Boone Tucker; and Sullivan Pool. She is also survived by her beloved brother, John B. Foerster, and his children Mark, Carole Trebich and her husband David, nephew Steve Foerster and wife Emily, and niece Debbie Dalton. In addition, she is survived by sister-in- law, Betty Foerster, and her 2 children, Kathy Boulton and David Foerster. She is also survived by many cousins and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, E.H. and Hallie Bolton Foerster; her first husband, Fred Johnson; husband Lloyd Pool; brothers Ernest Lockett and wife Ruth Foerster and Mark Foerster, as well as son-in-law John C. Webb Jr.

Pallbearers include her seven grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers include Danny Allbritton, Floyd Martin, Buck Isbell, Mark Foerster, Steve Foerster, Chase Scott, Keith Neumann, Hector Valadez, Archie Simmons, and Faber McMullen.

Susie will always be remembered for her enduring faith and generous spirit. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church in Navasota at 301 Church St., Navasota, TX 77868.

The family invites you to leave fond words or kind words at www.noblesfuneral.com .