Mary Lou Behne

Mary Lou Arnold Behne passed away on April 20, 2023, at her residence. She was 89. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 28th, at 2:30 pm at Christ Church in College Station, Texas. The family will receive visitors from 4 pm – 6 pm on Wednesday, April 26th, at the Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan, Texas.
Mary Lou Arnold was born in Barnsdall, Oklahoma to Bob and Geneva Arnold. She graduated from Sunset High School in 1951, and met her husband of 70 years, David Behne, at Kessler Park Methodist church. Upon marriage, Mary Lou worked at Bryan Air Force Base while David earned his degree from Texas A&M University. Mary Lou and David had an unwavering association with the Aggies that would last the rest of their lives. Mary Lou enjoyed singing in church choirs, crossword puzzles, and playing the piano and organ while raising the couple’s three children.
Mary Lou baked fabulous pies and was a genius with fried chicken. A pie cooling on the counter would always bring a smile to David’s face – and to her son-in-law Craig’s as well. One of the family traditions was a birthday dinner of your choice cooked by Mary Lou.
Mary Lou and David moved often in support of his work and later in retirement in search of the perfect place to play golf. She lived in the Boston area, Houston, Los Angeles, Austin, Carefree (Arizona) and Eagle (Colorado) in addition to Dallas and College Station. She never complained about moving, even with three young children, and could unpack a house and turn it into a home in about three days.
Mary Lou took up golf in her 30’s and played regularly well into her 70’s with David or a women’s group. She had 7 holes-in-one during her life and enjoyed playing in tournaments and on vacation. After David’s retirement, they traveled extensively with Mary Lou photographing and journaling all their trips. They visited every continent but Africa. Mary Lou also loved summer visits to Colorado with the family. In 1997, Mary Lou and David returned to College Station and Aggieland where their married life began. They became season ticket holders for multiple sports at Texas A&M and
joined the Maroon Club to support women’s sports. Mary Lou and David are founding members of Christ Church where Mary Lou volunteered in the church office and wrote the weekly newsletter for her Sunday School class.
Mary Lou is survived by: Daughter Linda Judd and her husband Craig; Son Tom Behne and his wife Christine; Daughter Patti Miller; Grandchildren Kevin, Allison, Emily, Jamie, Claire and Stone; Great-granddaughter Harper
Donations can be made to The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band or The Singing Cadets.