Mary Hall

A memorial service for Mary Annette Hall of Longview was held on Monday, October 15, 2018, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Longview with the Dr. David English officiating and Dr. Kenneth Hall giving the eulogy. Burial followed at Rosewood Park Mausoleum. Services are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home. She was born to Eston Maurice and Curtis Ocel Bass Hill on June 12, 1933 in Tyler, Texas. She went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Her parents, and sisters Dorothy Perdue and Ruth Burks preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 62 years Harlan Hall, daughter Dianna Sue Rice (Mark) son Dale Eston, and grandson Justin Rice, nieces, and nephews. Mary was a church organist for nearly 60 years, serving at St. Paul’s Methodist, Marvin Methodist, and First Christian Churches in Tyler. She was the organist/music associate at First Baptist Church, Odessa, Texas for 13 years, the organist/music associate at First Baptist Church, Longview for 27 years (until 1996) where she accompanied several church choirs and taught organ. She directed the handbell choirs and conducted rehearsals in Dr. Hall’s absence. Mary introduced handbells to the Longview area. She possessed perfect pitch-a rare musical gift. She began studying organ with Helen Glover at Tyler Junior College and majored in organ at Southern Methodist University (SMU) under Dora Poteet Barclay, internationally-famed concert organist and professor. Mary was the recipient of the Viola Cassidy award, given annually to the outstanding organ student at SMU. Her recitals were the first in the history of the SMU School of Music to be played from memory. She also studied voice under Mrs. J. Roscoe Golden while at SMU. Mary continued additional studies, attending numerous gradate seminars in the field of organ, composition, children’s choirs, and handbell choirs. She composed and arranged music and has several published works. She served on faculty of many music encampments. She accompanied the Singing Men of Texas (SMET) and THE CENTURYMEN on tours in the U.S. and in several foreign countries. For many years she had her own catering service, providing meals for corporations, after-Symphony performances, rehearsal dinners, and wedding receptions. No one enjoyed a laugh more than Mary, and she enjoyed cooking for her friends. Donations may be made in her memory to the organ fund at First Baptist Church, Longview, Texas.

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