Mary Ellen Houlihan (Shepherd)

September 21, 1923 — March 9, 2017

MARY ELLEN HOULIHAN
BENNINGTON, VERMONT

Mary Ellen Houlihan, age 93, passed away peacefully at Bennington Health & Rehab, in Bennington, VT on March 9, 2017, following a long illness. She had resided in Vermont since 2012, first at Fillmore Pond, an assisted living facility for three years, and then Bennington Health and Rehab, for the past two years.
Mary Ellen was born in Port Arthur, TX on Sept. 21, 1923 to Mabel and Thomas H. Shepherd. She was raised in Port Arthur and later attended Gulf Park College in Gulfport, MS. She married P. J. Garry of Port Arthur, who served in the Marines during WW II. After their marriage ended, she was remarried to Lee L. Broussard, formally of Port Arthur. They resided in McAllen, TX, where Mary Ellen was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church, serving as President of the Women of the Church, Directress of the Altar Guild, and as a member of the Vestry. Lee Broussard passed away in 1976 and Mary Ellen remained in McAllen until 1982, when she married Francis X. Houlihan of Houston. They resided in Houston and LaPorte, and enjoyed a lot of traveling and fishing. Francis Houlihan passed away 2003 and Mary Ellen remained in Houston until moving to Vermont in 2012.
In addition to her three husbands. Mary Ellen is also predeceased by her three brothers: Johnny Shepherd, Earl Shepherd and Lawrence Shepherd and a sister-in-law
Carmen Shepherd. She is also predeceased by her cousin, Marceane Houlihan, a step-son-in-law John Spisak, step-daughter Francine Bunner and step-son, John Houlihan
Survivors include: a daughter, Gail Broussard and partner Sharon Ragan, both if Bennington and formally of New York City, step-daughter Eileen Spisak, and family of Houston, niece and husband, Carmen and Bill Horn of New Braunfels, TX and family, step-son-in-law, Cliff Bunner and family of Houston and Austin. a step-niece, Jan Umphrey and family of Pearland, TX, one step-nephew, Kenneth Breaux and family of San Antonio and cousins Johnelle Cortner, and Dewitt Morrow and families of Houston and her step-daughter Dee Houlihan of Brenham, TX.
Mary Ellen loved animals, reading, fishing, Christmas, partying, dancing and had a wicked sense of humor. May she keeps the "Angels in Stitches"
Memorial services will be held at Mahar and Son Funeral Home in Bennington at a later date.
Guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net

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