Mary Ellen Ontiveros

Mary Ellen Ontiveros, 81, of Gilmer, Texas passed away on January 20, 2025 at her home surrounded by family. She was born on March 9, 1943, to Lloyd Frank Boylan & Catherine Vivian Boylan (Campbell) in Hoopeston, Illinois. She was the youngest of 3 children (Robert, Betty, and Mary) and her family lived in the Hoopeston area. She graduated from Hoopeston High School in 1961. Mary’s mother passed in 1953 when she was 10 years old. 

Her father became blind when she was in high school and later passed in 1968. She married Reyes Ontiveros in April 1963 and they lived in Hoopeston until 1982 where they raised their children (Cathy, Marta, and Joaquin). They moved to Harlingen, Texas, in 1982, moved again to Lafayette, Indiana in 1990, and then moved back to Texas, eventually settling on a 10 -acre blueberry farm outside of Gilmer, Texas.

Mary become a nurse’s aide in 1973 working at Hoopeston Hospital, eventually graduating from Danville Area Community College in 1977 with a Nursing degree. She worked as an LPN after that and when they moved to Harlingen, Texas, she worked at a Midwife Clinic delivering babies. She worked as a nurse most of her adult life, finishing up as a Medical Records Assistant before retiring.

Her family was the center of her life. She was very active in her children’s activities during their school years serving as a Brownie Troop leader, Head Coach of the girls’ softball team, and a fan/cheerleader for a myriad of basketball games, free-throw competitions, softball games, and marching band competitions. Mary made every celebration special with custom pinatas and custom decorated cakes.

She was preceded in death by her parents (Frank and Catherine), as well as her brother, Robert Boylan. She leaves behind, Reyes, her loving husband of 60 years, as well as her children: Catherine Ontiveros, Marta McVicker (husband, Tod), Joaquin Reyes Ontiveros (wife, Kris), grandchildren: Zachary Currey, Joshua Currey, Carly Jayroe, Dana McVicker, Krystle Seitz, and Lexi Ontiveros, and great grandchildren, Hudson Currey, Clara Jayroe, Kristin McGettrick, Riggen Seitz, and Wyatt Seitz, along with her sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Fanning.

A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer at 3PM.