Mary Ann Hamer Houtz “Mamie” of Driftwood, Texas, left her earthly life on June 15, 2022. She passed peacefully at her home surrounded by love and family. It was her 92nd birthday. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Kenneth Houtz.

Born in Shamrock, Texas, on June 15, 1930, she was the daughter of Dr. James Granberry Hamer and Ann Austin Hamer. Mary Ann went on to live an amazing life. She moved to Austin as a young girl and always thought of it as home. In 1952 she met and married a young Pennsylvanian named Kenneth Houtz who had relocated to Texas in the early stages of a career with DuPont Corporation. They soon left Texas, the first of many relocations to places like Denver, Richmond, Wilmington, Canada, Switzerland, West Germany, Chicago, New Jersey and Charlottesville, Virginia.

In 1982 they returned to Austin for good. When grandchildren arrived, Mary Ann became Mamie, and spent the next 40 years dispensing unconditional love, support, and sweet treats of all kinds to her seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday or missed a milestone, and made the best green chicken enchiladas in the world and the best chocolate banana birthday cake. She loved to fish and she was a better fisherman than most. She and Ken travelled to Alaska annually to fish for trout and salmon, and after his death she continued the tradition for many years, well into her late seventies. She introduced her children and grandchildren to Alaska, and her love for that state changed the course of all our lives for the better.

At home, she will always be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, strength of character and her voracious reading. She loved her dogs, and loved to sit in her kitchen and watch the hummingbirds.

She leaves behind her children, Melissa Houtz of Driftwood, Texas, Kenneth (Patricia) Houtz of Ware Neck, Virginia; grandchildren, Heather Kindred of Austin, Texas, Mary Hanna (Josh) Tyer of Fort Worth, Texas, Kenny Kindred and Weston Stovall of Driftwood, Mac (Megan) Houtz, Ella (Aaron) Ames and Will (Parichat) Houtz, all of Ware Neck; great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Aidan Houtz, Graham and Ashton Ames and Felix Houtz, all of Ware Neck, and Paul Tyer of Fort Worth; sisters-in-law, Lorrie Houtz of Georgetown, Texas, and Janice Belk of Media, Pa., and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held.