Mary Lou Verkin was born August 21, 1930 at St. Mary’s Infirmary in Galveston, Texas to Starley Earnest and Lou Mildred Roehl.  She attended Ball High School.  As a young girl, she worked for American National Insurance Company.  She married Richard Gilreath in 1947 and had one son.  She later married Paul Eidelbach.  They moved to 3111 McKinney Street, La Marque, Texas in 1953, where they raised their four children.  Mary was a stay-at-home mom until the older three children were grown.  Then, she took a job at Westlawn Elementary as a secretary and later went to work for College of the Mainland in the Resource Department and worked there until she retired.

Mary married Paul Verkin in 1994.  They enjoyed many years together.  They loved to travel, dance and enjoy their family.  They spent their last years together at Village on the Park in Friendswood, Texas.

During her final years Mary lived at the Meridian located on the Seawall in Galveston, Texas.  She was very proud of being a B. O. I. (born on the island) and always said that she would return to Galveston Island.  She loved her view from her apartment window.  She enjoyed seeing the Gulf of Mexico, people walking on the beach, counting the ships coming in and out of the port and watching the sea gulls.  The view brought back many fond memories of her life.

Mary loved the beach.  She enjoyed crabbing and she always said there was nothing like “putting her toes in the sand”.   She taught all of her grandchildren how to crab.  She also enjoyed many summer vacations camping with her family at Garner State Park.  Mary loved going to the casinos and she enjoyed teaching several family members how to play her two favorite games “Let it Ride” and “3 Card Poker”.   In her later years, she enjoyed jig saw puzzles, playing Bingo, Mahjong and Hand & Foot.  She was quite a competitor.

As a young mom, she loved to sew, making almost all of her daughters’ clothes.  She even made the older daughter’s wedding gown.  In her later years she took up quilting and made quilts for every family member and for several friends.

Mary passed away Friday, April 25, 2025 in League City, Texas.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Paul Verkin, her son Charles Paul Eidelbach, Jr. and her older brother, Starley Roehl.  She is survived by her son Richard Gilreath of League City, daughter Mary McDonald and son in law Mike of Willis, daughter Paula Gabriles of LaMarque, her twin brother Marvin Lee Roehl of Texas City and eight grandchildren:  Laura Steele, Paula Neely, Louis “Sparky” Gabriles, Angela Westhoff, Gabe Gilreath, Jennifer Eidelbach Sorrels, Caleb Gilreath, Rachel Eidelbach and seventeen great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild and six nieces and nephews.

She was extremely loved and will be deeply missed.

A private graveside service will be held at 12:00 pm, Monday, April 28, 2025 at Lakeview Cemetery, Galveston, Texas.