Mary Helen Skarpa

Mary Helen Skarpa, of Waco, passed away August 7, 2024 in Mexia, Texas at the age of 80. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home with Brother Michael Hensley officiating. Interment will follow in the Mexia Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Clinton Hendrix, Bobby Sterling, Timmy Sterling, Zack Rothrock, Adam Naumann, and Travis Austin McAlister, III.

Visitation with the family will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.

Mary was born September 29, 1943 in Athens, Texas to Thomas Jefferson and Charlie Neoma (Ray) Blackmon. Her working career began in Mexia at Spunkey’s Café, then she worked as a loom operator in the Mexia Cotton Mill before moving to Waco. In addition to working for the Kendrick Elementary school (in Waco) as a crosswalk guard for a few years, she spent approximately 50 years as a nurse’s aide in various nursing homes, prior to retirement.

All the siblings in the Blackmon family seemed to be better known to most people by their nicknames. Mary was known best as Chicken, Aunt Chicken, and Granny Chicken. Family was always first and foremost in her life. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved having her family at home, especially during the holidays. Mary was a good cook, she enjoyed preparing meals for her family almost as much as they enjoyed eating them. Although she was a hard worker, she enjoyed some leisure time shopping or playing bingo whenever possible.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Neoma Blackmon; son, Micheal Lane McAlister; and siblings, Willie O. Blackmon, Thomas Jefferson Blackmon, Jr., Fred Joseph Blackmon, Maxine Sterling, and Daryl Blackmon.

Mary is survived by her husband, Raymond P. Skarpa; two sons, Travis Austin McAlister, Jr. and Jeff Dean McAlister; stepson, Darrel Skarpa and wife, Kelly; grandchildren, Rebecca Gale Rothrock and husband, Zack, Travis Austin McAlister, III and wife, Cara Powers, Melody Lichelle Naumann and husband, Adam, Richard Thomas McAlister, and Micheal Dean McAlister; numerous great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.