Mary Eileen Bauer (Mooney) passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on September 13, 2025, in Dallas, Texas with her family by her side. She was born December 11, 1941, in Wichita, Kansas, the youngest of four children, to Michael J. and Margaret Mooney (Hamilton).
Mary spent her early childhood on a farm in Stafford County. What she remembered most about her time on the farm was her favorite dog, Joe, a Newfoundland, who she adored. Around the age of five, the family home was moved to Hutchinson when her father took over the family business, Hamilton Roofing. Shortly thereafter, Mary contracted polio, and after enduring very difficult treatments, she was fortunate to have survived without lasting harm.
Her family was a long-time member of St. Teresa Catholic Church and later joined Church of the Holy Cross in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mary attended high school at St. Teresa High School where she and her older sister, Margaret Ann were cheerleaders. After graduating in 1959, she briefly attended Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to Kansas City with friends.
In August 1963, she married her beloved husband, Philip M. Bauer, and moved with him to Boston where they later welcomed their first child, Courtney (1966). In 1967, they settled in Dallas, Texas, where Phil began working for Collins Radio. During this time, they met John and Jackie Earls who became lifelong friends. When Phil’s career offered him an opportunity to live and work in Norway for an extended period in the mid-1970s, Mary adjusted to life overseas and enjoyed exploring and shopping throughout Norway and Sweden. They returned to Richardson, Texas, in 1975. In those years, Mary enjoyed playing tennis with Phil and friends, shopping, and raising Courtney.
Later, their family expanded, adding Ryan (1976) and Megan (1978), and they moved to Plano, Texas, where they would make their home for the next 48 years. Over the years the family thrived, thanks in large part to Mary's indomitable spirit, boundless love and unyielding devotion. She was always a fierce protector of her children and a source of strength for her family.
Mary always had a very close bond with her two older sisters that often involved late nights of endless laughing, mornings filled with coffee, cinnamon rolls and Sara Lee coffee cakes, and days on end of marathon shopping trips. Their bond was unparalleled. Mary was known for her quick wit and masterful timing, but when the three sisters were together, she was in her element – their humor and joy radiated to everyone around them. Mary’s laugh had a unique, unmistakable quality - bright, infectious and full of life, it could fill any room and lift the spirits of everyone nearby.
Mary had a gift for enjoying life and delighted in sharing the little pleasures she had discovered with her children and grandchildren. She did not hesitate to indulge them or herself whenever the opportunity arose. If it was a new Christmas decoration or if it was adding a splash of whole cream to a bowl of cereal, she seized the opportunity. She lived life to the fullest without regrets.
Mary often combined her enjoyment of shopping with her deep love of the Christmas holiday season. Those who knew her, undoubtedly knew that the magic of Christmas and the joy of the season was one of her great passions. She loved nothing more than decorating the house for Christmas, baking endless holiday treats and painstakingly fulfilling her family’s wish lists. Mary carried with her the magic of Christmas morning and made sure to give her children and grandchildren that same sense of childlike delight. She worked tirelessly to make every Christmas the best in every way.
Mary was a devoted wife to Phil for 62 years, a loving mother and a cherished grandmother. She prioritized family above all else. Her generosity and kindness knew no limits. As the years went on, she experienced a difficult physical decline that she endured with courage, grace and extraordinary resilience. Despite much physical difficulty, she rarely complained. In her final days, when the intensive care doctor came to deliver the results of a critical test, Mary looked at him and said softly, “You should go home – you must be tired." He held her hand and was visibly touched by her kindness. Mary was selfless to the very end, always more concerned with the comfort and needs of those around her than with her own.
She will be dearly missed.
She leaves behind her husband, Philip; her daughters, Courtney (Matthew) and Megan (Suzanne); her son, Ryan (Kate); grandchildren, Zoey, Siobhan, Graeme, Eiley, August and Mae; her sister, Margaret Ann Hohl; nieces, nephews and other relatives in Texas and Kansas, brother-in-law, Michael Bauer (Jeanette) and lifelong friends, John and Jacqueline Earls.
Preceding her in death are her parents, sister, Helen Louise Mullen, and brother, Michael Mooney.
Parish Rosary will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 20, 2025, with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30 a.m., both at Church of the Holy Cross, 2631 Independence Road, Hutchinson. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign her book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary. The family will greet friends from 9:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.