Mary Ulrich

Saturday, November 20th, 2021 marked the unforgettable day our beloved Mary Jane Ulrich earned her holy wings and departed on her well-deserved journey to Heaven.

Born on March 18th, 1932 to Keith and Lola May Carnes, she served as the eldest of five growing up in Rule, Texas, a town with less than 500 at the time in the northern part of the state. At the age of seventeen, life quickly changed as she was swept off her feet by the rough-edged Navy veteran, William Charles Ulrich, known to most as ‘Bill’. Nine years her senior and opposite by comparison, the passionate couple married less than a year later in 1950, marking the beginning of a more than 50 year commitment to one another and the prosperity of the Ulrich legacy. Seven children and many years later, Jane and Bill land in West Texas to settle in her beloved town of Monahans, marking a new beginning and a nearly fifty year settlement right in the heart of the city.

Jane began her career as a well-known realtor to the small town of Monahans and later transitioned to serving as Director of the Ward County Senior Citizens Center where she made a name for herself as a kind and generous leader, talented host of ceremonies, and friend to many. Notorious for maintaining records, she meticulously recorded her life’s events in her daily journal, a treasure trove of valuable information, historical events, and her opinions regarding her children’s sometimes questionable decisions.

An uncompromising fan of the Texas Rangers, a tireless supporter of her beloved Dallas Cowboys, and relentless Hallmark Movie Channel fan, Jane was as unique as they come. Well-known for her ability to make magic in the kitchen, she lost many chocolate pies and Thanksgiving Turkeys to ransom notes demanding more of her delicious, homemade masterpieces. Jane served proudly as the master of ceremonies for her family's annual and very competitive cornhole tournament each Thanksgiving, a holiday that she looked forward to and prepared for months ahead of time each year.

Better known to the world as ‘MamaJane’, she never met a stranger and lit up the room when she smiled. Sister to four, Mother to Seven, Grandmother to fifteen, Great-Grandmother to eighteen, and home to dozens more, she was the beautiful, unwavering, strong and decisive rock that held her family together for so many years. The sadness of her passing is comforted by the thought of her amazing journey through life and the milestones that it was made of. For her loving family, celebrating a beautiful life lost is bittersweet as “It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone”. -John Steinbeck.

Jane is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles William “Bill” Ulrich, daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Ann Sawyers. son Joseph Todd Ulrich and sister Shirley Carnes. She is survived by her son Charlie Ulrich and wife Kathy, son David Ulrich and wife Sherrie, son-in-law Randy Sawyers, son Mark Ulrich and fiance Michelle Zepeda, daughter Jennifer Laster and son Ronnie Ulrich and wife Michelle Ulrich. Siblings include Mike Carnes, Tony Carnes and Dixie Light.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday, November 26, 2021 at Harkey Funeral Home. Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 26, 2021 at St. John Evangelist Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 27, 2021 St. John Evangelist Catholic Church with Father Joe officiating, burial will follow at Monahans Memorial Cemetery.

Visit our website harkeyfuenrals.com to sign the guestbook or leave a personal message for the family. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Harkey Funeral Home.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude's charity.