Dallas - Mary Lou McWhirter Sharp, of Dallas, passed peacefully after a short illness on May 19, 2025 at the age of 88.

Mary Lou was born in Campbell, Texas on June 18, 1936 to Wildred Wayne and Mattie Zoe McWhirter. Soon after, she went to live with her grandparents, William L. and Johnie Emily Emond, who raised her in Campbell. She graduated as salutatorian of her class from Campbell High School. She then attended East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, where she met her future husband, Jerry Lee Sharp.

After graduating with a degree in business administration, she married Jerry in 1956 and they started a life together in Dallas. They raised three daughters and were married for 64 years, before his death in 2020.

Professionally, Mary Lou worked at Southwestern Life Insurance Company, in human resources at Temco and LTV, and in the counseling office at Lake Highlands Junior High School. Later, she owned and operated Preston Royal Secretarial Services.

She and her husband were longtime members of Lake Highlands United Methodist Church. Together, they enjoyed spending time with family, raising and showing Boston Terriers, traveling and sweepstaking.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, and her parents, grandparents, sisters Emily Adelstein, Martha McWhirter, Sandra Gennaro, Sheryl Gorman, brother Wayne McWhirter, Jr. and son-in-law Allen Kaus.

Survivors include her daughters Carolyn (Roy) Dill of Katy, Martha Kaus of Terrell, Kathryn (Shane) Potter of Dallas; Grandchildren Jamie (Katie) Yarbrough of Houston, Kelly (Mike) Crews of Red Oak, Kristi (Scott) Groff of Carrollton, Cameron Potter of Austin, and great grandchildren Gabriel, Jonah, Philip and Timothy Yarbrough and Paige Beheler. She is also survived by her brothers Billy McWhirter and Ronnie King and sister Sharon Bennett.

The family would like to thank her primary caregiver, Charletha Powell and all the staff at CC Young for the loving care they provided Mary Lou.

A graveside service will take place on Friday, May 23 at 1 p.m. at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Commerce Funeral Home and Cremation Service.