Mary Dunnahoo

Mary Joanne (Jodie) Dollahite Dunnahoo passed away on January 13, 2021 from COVID-19 in Kerrville, Texas, at the age of 83. She was born in McKinney, Texas, on May 14, 1937 to parents Joseph Wiley (Joe) and Lois Camilia Smith Dollahite. Jodie's family moved to San Marcos, Texas, where her father opened "Dollahite's Shoes" on the downtown square. She graduated from San Marcos High School in 1954. The common practice of alphabetical seating assignments led to Jodie being introduced to the red-headed, fiddle-playing, freckled boy sitting behind her, Jay Bret Dunnahoo. Their friendship blossomed, and they were married on January 18, 1958. \r\n\r\nJodie was a mother, an educator, and a friend to many. As Jay began his teaching career in 1958 in San Angelo, Texas, Jodie attended college classes part-time while also raising their family. In 1960 they moved to Austin, Texas, which enabled Jodie to earn her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Texas in 1965. Since Austin ISD policy at that time did not permit employment of female teachers with children under the age of one, her first teaching position was in the Manor ISD as a reading specialist at the Manor Colored School. By 1965 the family included four children, Deborah Lou (Debbie), Timothy Jay (Tim), Patrick Alan (Pat) and Michael Glen (Mike). In 1966, Jodie and Jay moved the family to Pasadena, Texas, where they were recruited to teach in the Pasadena ISD. Jodie loved to read and teach, and initially taught Language Arts and Social Studies (LASS) at South Houston Intermediate School prior to teaching these subjects at the new V. W. Miller Intermediate School beginning in 1968. She continued her education, earning a Master of Science Degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake City. Later, in the 1990's, Jodie taught Reading and English at Pasadena High School prior to completing her career as an adjunct faculty member at San Jacinto Junior College in Pasadena. Following construction of their retirement home in May 1999, Jodie and Jay relocated to Kerrville, Texas, where they quickly became active in the community while they also continued to enjoy their worldwide travels.\r\n\r\nJodie was raised Baptist yet became an active Presbyterian following her marriage to Jay. After joining First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena in 1966, she served in various roles including as a ruling elder and a Sunday School teacher, and she was a dedicated member of the church choir. After moving to Kerrville in 1999, Jodie joined the First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville and was a member of the church choir until she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage stroke in 2015, resulting in vascular dementia that adversely affected her short-term memory.\r\n\r\nFollowing the death of her husband Jay in 2018, Jodie resided at Brookdale Senior Living in Kerrville, Texas. \r\n\r\nJodie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Donna, and her husband Jay. Jodie is survived by her four children and their spouses: Debbie (Mark Syptak), Tim (Sylvia da Silva), Pat (Cheryl Jackson), and Mike (Susan Lloyd); eight grandchildren, Sarah Christine Syptak-Hinrichs (Justin Hinrichs), Stephen Syptak, Daniel (Vanessa Burkhart) Syptak, Anna Syptak-Welch (Austin Welch), Blake, Brandon, Erin and Megan Dunnahoo; four great-grandchildren, Brianna, Ryleigh and Alexa Hinrichs, and Cali Syptak. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Linda Dollahite-Hotz (Jim Hotz).\r\n\r\nJodie was an avid supporter of music education and requested that donations be directed to the Hill Country Youth Orchestra (hcyo.org).\r\n\r\nA memorial service celebrating Jodie's life is planned for Saturday May 1, 2021 in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church, 800 Jefferson St., Kerrville, TX with a reception to follow.