Mary Shannon Koller

Mary Shannon Koller passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 16, 2025 at the age of 66 after a short illness.

Shannon was born to Thomas and Vivian Hargraves in Blackwell, Oklahoma, as the “baby” of her family with four older siblings. After spending her early years in Oklahoma, she moved to the Rio Grande Valley, where she eventually played the flute in the Edinburg High School marching band and graduated in 1977.

She went on to UT-Pan American, where she was president of Delta Zeta sorority and member of the Panhellenic Council, graduating with her BBA in Marketing in 1981. She had a successful career in market research, traveling to places like China and Kazakhstan and earning her master’s degree in Leadership before retiring.

Shannon married Bruce Koller, the love of her life, in 1986, enjoying 39 years of love and quick wit. Her daughter, Traci, was born in 1984 and raised in Dallas, graduating from Baylor University, making both parents very proud. Shannon was the best mom and Mimi, never missing a choir concert or event, hand making intricate costumes, and baking for every bake sale; she even acted as Girl Scout Cookie Mom, not an endeavor for the weak.

She was the life of the party ,lighting up every room she walked into with her easy smile. She could make friends with anyone and gave the best hugs, early and often, pouring love into her friends and family. She was a first-class baker, particularly known for her Christmas cookies, and loved animals (especially her dogs), Christmas, cozy mysteries, cross-stitch, lots of jewelry, and anything British. She was silly, sarcastic, incredibly smart, vivacious, loving, and beautiful.

Shannon is preceded in death by her mother and father; her brothers Ray and Russel Hargraves; and her equally sarcastic sister, Mabel Hinojosa. She is survived by her beloved husband, Bruce, and daughter, Traci; her son-in-law Michael and grandchild Catherine; sister Bonnie Jo Williamson; sister- and brother-in-law Doreen and Brian McGill; and a whole mess of nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and dear friends who will miss her terribly. Nothing will ever replace this hole in our hearts, but we will do our best to make her proud.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 20 at 1pm at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home in Mexia, TX, with Pastor Matt Mooneyham officiating. There will be a reception immediately following the service at Tehuacana Methodist Church – going straight for the nosh, just as Mama would have wanted.