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CONGRATULATIONS to Mary Edwards Zumwalt from Murphy TX. Ms. Texas Senior America 2007, and to the State Directors Mary Frances Hansen/Beth Weems Pirtle/John Dornheim and the Sponsors for the beautiful Texas state pageant!
Mary Edwards Zumwalt, a life long Texan, grew up in a pastor’s family, moving frequently around West Texas. For generations, her entire family have been natural musicians, and she gratefully says she inherited the gene. She and her two sisters learned to be ready at any moment to perform, on or off stage.
Mary attended Hardin Simmons University to pursue her goal of medical missions – with a passion to go to Asia. Due to a major eye disease she was unable to continue. After a brief hiatus, she returned to HSU and met Larry Edwards, her husband to be. Early in their marriage they had two daughters, and her life was full raising her family and later working outside the home.
Her work experience includes being a staff member at various churches, personnel work in a school district, and 20 years working for various companies in sales and marketing, including: U. S. Clinical Products, where she became National Bids and Contracts Manager; Dallas Baptist University Academic Counselor in the Adult Education Department; and Women of Faith, Inc., a non-denominational help to women, where Mary traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada as Group Sales Representative.
Mary graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a BBA degree in Marketing, as a “seasoned woman” in 1995, before her husband, Larry, died of cancer in 1997. Facing life alone, she determined not to be a bitter widow.
Mary is an accomplished pianist, who started playing by ear at age three. She studied piano for twelve years, has accompanied soloists, ensembles, and choirs since a teenager. Mary has composed music for all these various groups, and has been a church pianist for over 40 years. She traveled extensively throughout Texas to accompany her husband singing, and played piano for several mission trips in the U.S. and Mexico.
She served on the Garland Symphony Orchestra Board for ten years, was Co-President of that board for two years, during which she was instrumental in beginning a concert program for elementary students of the Garland School District.
Mary remarried in 2002 to an American man, Jack Zumwalt who lived in Hong Kong, and worked throughout SE Asia. She inherited four bonus daughters, has expanded a collection of Asian art, and will soon have a total of 14 grandchildren.
Mary’s husband retired in 2002, and she joined him in retirement in 2004. They moved into a life of volunteering, including church building, missions, and mentoring others. They have led a “Boundaries in Marriage” 12 week seminar for three semesters, by helping young couples. Mary loves global travel, and has a passion for Mission Trips, particularly in China, Thailand and SE Asia. Mary’s dream as a young woman of ministering in Asia, is being fulfilled because of God orchestrating new love and life through her husband who lived and worked in SE Asia. She is also extremely active in the Women’s Ministry of her church in Murphy where she teaches a weekly Bible study.
Mary is active in volunteer work at the Plano Senior Center where she accompanies the Senior Serenaders, who sing for residents in retirement and assisted living facilities. She is still pianist at her local church, and hopes to do so until at least 95! Life since 60 has been extremely exciting for Mary, and she wants to encourage Seniors to believe that every day is a gift. It is never too late to accomplish your goals! Mary believes that people cross your life for a reason & a God-directed purpose. She, therefore, finds grace & beauty in all who allow her to be an encouragement.
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