Near dawn on the first day of Autumn surrounded by her family Mary Ellen Lessing 86 died September 22 2008 in Abilene Texas having finished her race and won her prize. Memorial services will be held Wednesday September 24 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest with The Reverend Scott Mayer officiating. Burial will follow at the Eula Cemetery under the direction of North's Funeral Home 242 Orange. Mary was born April 05 1922 in Coleman Texas to E.H. and Mae Klapper. After graduating from Coleman High School and attending business school Mary worked in Dallas for a short time. She returned to Coleman in 1941 after the death of her father. She moved to Abilene and married William D. (Bill) Lessing in 1947 a marriage that lasted 56 years before his death in 2003. After rearing her children Mary worked as a bookkeeper for Sunset Stages until her retirement. Mary was a parishioner of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest for over 50 years. During her life Mary experienced a lot of personal joys and sorrows. Throughout it all she loved God her husband her children her relatives and her neighbors. They loved her in return. Survivors include two sons Dan and his wife Vicky Lessing of Abilene and Reg Lessing; a daughter and son-in-law Kay and Don Hinsley of Wellington Texas; sister-in-law Helen Klapper of Borger Texas; grandchildren; Mackenzie Spencer and her husband David of Houston Texas Andrea Wickham of Ft. Worth Texas; Michelle Lessing of Abilene and Danielle Lessing of Lubbock Texas. Online condolences may be sent to www.northsfuneralhome.com