Mary Jean Yuen, 83, of Hallettsville, passed away November 23, 2021.  She was born on March 18, 1938, to Joseph and Lou Strother Tolbert in Ruston, Louisiana.  Mary married Joe Deep Yuen on November 26, 1954 in Houston, Texas.

Mary loved to go fishing.  She and Joe went crappie fishing a lot both in Texas and in Idaho.  She was a wonderful cook, and could fry up the lightest tastiest fish fry better than anyone.  Her baking was just as delicious no one could match her key lime pie and her melt in your mouth meringues pie.  She once taught all of her daughters and daughters-in-laws how to make Apple pies from scratch.  She loved going to yard sales finding little treasures with Joe.

Mary liked bright cheerful colors and often used them when creative in her sewing.  She made beautiful matching Western Style shirts and hats for Joe, and all the boys, the grandkids got some as well.  The girls, she made beautiful dresses.  The family, on special occasions, receive shirts for Valentine Day, with little hearts on them and more.  Joe loved his special made shirts and always wore them to show them off, and even poker shirts that she made.

Mary spent a lot of time gardening, and taught her children a lot about how to raise vegetables and flowers.  She usually had a plant growing new sprout in a glass on the window still.  She always had animals, especially dogs.  The dogs loved her and knew she took care of them, like she did her family.  She was devoted to Joe and not just her own children, but also to everyone that came into her home, by taken care of them and welcome them.  She was patience with us all, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren always there.  Now with Joe hurrying her up to join him, we had to say goodbye to her.

Mary is survived by her 2 daughters Lynn Judd Yuen & Richard Graf of Hallettsville, TX and Rebecca Guzman & Ray Phillips of Madisonville, KY (ex-husband Gilbert Guzman Sr. of Southwestern MO); 3 sons Joel Wayne Yuen & wife Cindy of Emmett, ID, Joseph Paul Yuen & wife Jeannie of Galena, KS, and Buddy Joe Yuen & wife Julie of Caldwell, ID; 1 sister Myrtle Lee Lee of SC; 1 half-sister Orean Jones of Tomball, TX; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband; parents; son Jesse D. Yuen Sr.; 1 great-grandson Layton Charles Sollock; 2 brothers Billy Tolbert and Louis Tolbert; 1 son-in-law Michael Ray Judd Sr.; and 2 daughter-in-laws Kathy Poorbaugh and Stephena Yuen.

Visitation: 3pm, November 30, 2021, at Kubena Funeral Home.