Mary Jean Hickernell Black of Conroe, Texas passed away on October 21, 2016, at the age of 94. Mary Jean was born on January 25, 1922 in Denver, Colorado to Katharine (Krouse) and Cloyd Hickernell. With her parents, sister, Dorothy, and her brother, Jim, Mary Jean lived in several states before moving to Basile, Louisiana, where she graduated from Eunice High School in 1938. She graduated from the University of Houston, with a degree in English before going to work for Shell Pipe Line, Corp. in downtown Houston. While working for Shell, Mary Jean met Ray Black, and the two were married on December 2, 1950, in Houston, Texas. Mary Jean and Ray lived in Bellaire, raising their two children, John and Kathy, until 1971, when they moved to Conroe.

Throughout her long life, Mary Jean enjoyed golfing, reading, gardening, and traveling. After retirement, Mary Jean and Ray purchased an RV with a goal to see the country. They traveled to all 50 states, taking hundreds of photos along the way. Mary Jean acted as the family historian, often spending time behind the camera to provide visual documentation for generations to come. Over the past several years, she worked diligently to scan, label, and organize thousands of family photos and documents, tracing the earliest arrival of her relatives to the United States to 1768. Mary Jean was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 70 years. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Conroe where she was blessed by loving relationships and stimulating Bible studies.

Mary Jean is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and by her husband, Ray. She is survived by son, John and daughter-in-law, Penny Black, of Garland, daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law, Dan Ellwood of Houston, grandchildren, Laura Browning of Austin, Christy O'Neal and husband, Chris of Richardson, Peter Black of Garland, Charisse Phemister and husband, Travis of Richardson, Amy Ellwood and Jean Marie Howard and husband, Cutter, all of Houston, great-grandchildren, Hailey, Mason, and Reagan Browning, Aiden Black, and Thomas Phemister, along with numerous loving nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Sarah Selleck, the doctors and staff of Holly Hall Retirement Community and Houston Hospice for their care and support during the last year and a half. Graveside services were held in Old Corn Hill Cemetery in Jarrell, Texas, on October 27, with Pastor Steve Martin presiding. A memorial service will be held on November 18th at 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Conroe, Texas with the Rev. Dr. David Green presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary Jean to First Presbyterian Church of Conroe 2727 N. Loop 336 W Conroe TX 77304, or the .