Mary T. Giesecke passed away peacefully on August 31st 2026 at the age of 87, 12 days shy of her 88th birthday.

Mary was a loving wife, daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother.

Mary was not shy in living her life which threw many limitations in her way. She was born September 12, 1938, the daughter of sharecroppers, Edna Fesmire Teasler Hyde and Langston C. Teasler (changed from Teasley from an earlier immigrant). They have both preceded her in death. She was the 2nd of 6 children which have all out-survived her. They are Janie Smith, Dottie Merritt, Daniel Teasler, Brenda Iglinsky, and Joan Rose.

Mary graduated highschool at 16 and started Jr. College at the same age, eventually graduating Old Miss with dual majors in business and primary education. This led her into following the call of John Kennedy into joining the Peace Corps in 1961 where she met Leonard Giesecke.

Mary and Leonard married on July 13 1963 on the way back from their 2-year stint teaching in the Philippines, in Hilo Hawaii, on their way to Greece and Turkey. Their eldest daughter Marjorie was born in Turkey, then 8 months later they flew back to Austin so that Leonard could finish his Doctorate degree.

Mary was working at the UT library on the day of the UT Tower shootings. Leonard had just come in to pick her up. It was a day neither would forget.

Eventually, Mary and Leonard had Baby number two, Jennifer, and they moved to Georgetown in 1968. Leonard taught at Southwestern and Mary was a stay at home mother, stumping for various politicians that she believed would help shape the world.

Mary continued with political involvement throughout her life, becoming an election judge in Williamson County in her later years in Georgetown.

As her children grew, Mary started substitute teaching in the Georgetown School system about 1976. In a couple of years she had a class of her own teaching 1st grade. She also spent a summer getting her Master's degree in San Marcos, Texas at Southwest Texas University, living in the dorm for those 3 months.

Eventually, in her 40's, Mary was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, which led her into teaching Art and Spanish to Primary Students in a more limited capacity, eventually deciding to retire in May 1994 as her disease was progressive and her sight diminished.

Unfortunately, her husband Leonard F. Giesecke preceded her in death dying suddenly of a heart attack on April 9th, 1994.

After her retirement, Mom actively followed politics and football, taking up sewing more, and extensively researching both sides of her children's ancestors, making her mark in genealogy, in some cases getting as far back as the 1500's.

Mary's eyesight was restrictive, but she didn't show it. Along with researching genealogy ( with computer help from her children), she studied German and visited Germany, visited Turkey and London, and went to Philippine Peace Corp reunions, visiting The Philippines, Boston, Toronto, and Pasadena to name a few. She also enjoyed shopping and talking to people. She never met a stranger.

Eventually Mary had to sell her house and move to assisted living. There was resistance by the residents because of her limited eyesight, but she won them over with her seeming ease of getting around and her outgoing personality.

But, as these things go, Mary was diagnosed with Lewys Body's Dementia and her decline worsened. She eventually ended up residing in Memory Care at San Gabriel Rehabilitation Center in Round Rock where they tried to keep her in comfort and peace until her passing.

She is survived in death by her daughters Marjorie and Jennifer Giesecke, and grandson Frey Eglin.

We will celebrate the living and passing of Mary on her birthday Saturday September 12th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. for a Memorial Service. Refreshments will follow.

In lieu of flowers please donate in her name to:

https://lbda.org/donate

Or any organization that you feel appropriate.