HORN, MARY OLIVE (1945 ~ 2023). The following is an obituary for Mary Horn, spouse of former Texas House Member Jim Horn. The obituary was provided by DeBerry Funeral Directors of Denton.

Mary Olive Horn, of Sanger, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023 at the age of 77.

The longest serving and first female Denton County Judge, Mary Olive Horn, made every decision by prioritizing the greater good with selflessness and fearless determination.

Born in Owatonna, Minnesota on June 28, 1945 to Mary Ann and Lt. Commander Dr. O.W. Roberts, Mary was originally named Mary Ellen Roberts but her name was changed to Mary Olive Roberts when her father returned home from World War II.

Blanche, Jean, and Chuck Roberts adored their younger sister, Mary O. Mary spent her childhood ice skating, active in the Girl Scouts, and helping her mom and dad run her father’s medical practice.  Dr. Roberts was the only doctor for several miles in any direction, so Mary was never short of stories about delivering babies, assisting in surgeries, and even assisting with the birth of horses or other farm animals.  Mary was as young as 10 when she would be responsible for sterilizing surgical equipment or cleaning the office after a patient received care.

Mary was runner-up “Miss Owatonna”, but we have requested a recount and the Horn family firmly believes the outcome will show she was the most beautiful girl ever from Owatonna, Minnesota.

Mary also had family in Iowa and Wyoming, and she still sent flowers to her great aunt in Iowa every year.  Mary’s other great aunt and uncle managed Eaton’s Ranch in Wyoming and Mary spent a teenage summer working at the Ranch.  This was one of the best summers of her life and she loved to tell stories about her time there.

Family was everything to Mary her entire life.  She became an aunt at age 12 and she loved all her nieces and nephews as if they were her own.  Every one of them recounts equally feeling like they must have been her favorite and how they loved her laughter and storytelling.  Mary taught them how to do cartwheels and headstands and everyone agrees, Aunt Mary was just fun.

Mary loved Minnesota and would often report to her children and grandchildren what the weather was in Minnesota that day. She studied at the Mankato State College in 1964 and was certified with the Minnesota School of Business in 1965. Engaged to be married, something pulled at Mary to spread her wings.  So off she moved to Dallas, Texas in 1965 to become a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines.  Mary traveled the world with Braniff and met all sorts of interesting people but the most important person she met on a flight was Jim Horn. Jim was returning from Army service in Germany.

When that fateful flight landed Jim and his brother John offered Mary a ride home.  Mary accepted that ride and it wasn’t long before she returned the engagement ring.  Mary was quickly in love with Jim’s humor and work ethic, and she often shared this story with her children.

Mary and Jim married on May 6, 1967 and though the Roberts family was less than thrilled with this decision, Mary was strong enough and independent enough to choose Jim and start her life with him settling first in Dallas and eventually in Denton, Texas.  Mary fell in love with Denton and Denton fell in love with her.

Mary and Jim were poorer than poor when they married and Mary quickly put them on a tight budget, not allowing herself to spend more than $20/week on groceries and not buying anything else beyond that. Mary and Jim worked as a team every day to build a life for themselves and their children.  Mary was the only person in the world tighter than Jim Horn.  She wouldn’t spend a penny if she didn’t have to and that dedication to saving is what allowed Mary and Jim to build such a successful life.

Mary was promoted through the ranks at Braniff from 1965 – 1982 and when she took maternity leave for her children, she was replaced by two men to complete her same workload.  This was often a source of a good laugh between Mary and her daughter.

When Braniff closed in 1982, Mary was one of the top eight executives in the company; the only woman, and the only one without a four-year college degree.  The same week Braniff folded, Mary’s father passed away and their home flooded in a storm.  Of course, State Representative Jim Horn was in Austin at the time serving in the Legislature, so Mary handled these challenges alone with grace and determination and two young kids to care for as well. But that was Mary.  She wasn’t afraid of tough.  She was as tough as they come.

Family was everything to Mary and she wanted children of her own.  She struggled through numerous miscarriages and finally became a mother to Jennifer Anne Horn Stevens on July 8, 1974.  Jennifer was the only girl ever born in the Horn family and grew up to be Mary’s mini-me building a life in politics and business. Mary struggled again through miscarriages until she finally had a son, Lieutenant Colonel James (Jimmy) Aron Horn on August 6, 1979.  Jimmy’s appointment to West Point and distinguished military career were the source of tremendous pride for Mary.  Of course, Mary and Jim were Co-Presidents of the West Point Parent’s Club.

Mary and Jim were both civic minded and began pouring themselves into state and national Republican politics shortly after arriving in Denton. In 1972, at their kitchen table, the couple started the Republican Party in Denton County.  Jennifer and Jimmy were raised with the same spirit of public service and spent their childhood block walking, putting up yard signs, and raising money for candidates. Their family vacations were spent driving to Republican state conventions and legislative conferences all over the country.

Mary supported her husband, Jim, in his election as the first Republican in Denton County since Reconstruction. It took three elections before Jim won but Mary’s support never wavered.  In fact, Mary never wavered on anything; campaigning in the cold until she got frostbite on her hands on a particularly cold January evening.  Jim served as the State Representative in District 64 for 18 years.

With Braniff gone and Jim earning $600/month as a Legislator leaving Mary alone with two kids to raise, Mary started a newcomer welcoming business.  Mary needed flexibility in her work schedule to care for the kids and she also regularly cared for her mother-in-law and her stepmother.

Mary bought a young business and built it to be incredibly successful. Denton County Greetings would send welcome packets to new residents.  Mary would sell advertising in the packets to local businesses then send them once a month. Mary had no problem with child labor, so Jennifer and Jimmy spent evenings and weekends helping their mom build her business.

Mary began her political career as the first woman to be elected to the Denton County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office on Jan. 1, 1993, serving for 9 ½ years. In 2002, she was elected as the first woman County Judge in Denton County history, serving citizens until Jan. 1, 2019, as she completed her tenure as the only female and longest serving Denton County Judge. Her parting advice to incoming County Judge Andy Eads was typical, to the point, and insightful, “stick to your guns.”

Mary oversaw significant milestones as the county experienced phenomenal growth.

Among her most prized accomplishments – being a good steward of Denton County residents’ tax dollars. Mary strongly believed in running a fiscally conservative operation while providing quality services to Denton County residents.  Mary modernized the tax office and increased efficiencies.  She also went to Austin and was the force behind the state law that enabled vehicle registration online, or at grocery stores, to make it easier for residents.

During her time as Tax Assessor-Collector, she wrote and testified in support of nine state tax laws, good practice, she said, for serving as County Judge. After her appointment on June 11, 2002, as County Judge, her first major task was to increase budget reserves, which went a long way to establishing the county’s ongoing AAA bond rating.

She spearheaded two road bond packages overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004 and 2008, leveraging $335 million in local funds to bring over $3 billion in road improvements and improved or new county buildings. Mary did this against the will of the Denton County Republican Executive Committee who voted almost unanimously against expanding I-35.  But that was Mary.  If it was the right thing to do, she didn’t care what the pressures were, she was going to do it.  Mary had guts and tolerated no shenanigans.

As her term was ending, every state and federal highway in Denton County had been widened or was funded and in development to be widened. And all of Denton says thank you today.

Judge Horn expanded or improved county buildings including the Loop 288 Administrative Complex, the District Attorney Annex, the County Government Centers at Carrollton, Cross Roads, and Frisco, and the Southwest Courthouse, the Charlie Cole Building, the Denton Courts Building, the County Law Enforcement facilities, Road & Bridge East and West facilities, and the Lee Walker Government Center Buildings.

She envisioned the new Denton County Administrative Courthouse in the early to mid-2000s, working tirelessly to advocate for voter-approved dollars to build a courthouse worthy of generations to come, much like the historic 1896 Courthouse-on-the-Square has proven to be, she noted in a letter written for a time capsule for the new Denton County Administrative Courthouse.

Through her tenure in County service, Mary served on 20 various boards and committees. She saw a 65 percent increase in population during her term and, as her term was ending, the county roster had grown to 1,700 employees working in 40 buildings to provide services.

Mary not only founded but also built the Republican Party in Denton.  She was the 1988 Texas Federation of Republican Women Honoree and served as President of the Denton Republican Women’s Club in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999-2000, and 2018-2019.

In her final column, published in the Denton Record-Chronicle, she wrote: “There is a sense of satisfaction in knowing that I worked side by side with many great employees to lay the foundation for what is to come. I would not trade these past 26 years for anything. Thank you to the many elected officials, employees and residents who made it a memorable ride.”

Nothing brought Mary more joy than her grandchildren.  She was always jumping in to babysit or show up for a cheer/volleyball/basketball/football/baseball game.  MiMi was famous for her pancakes and no family weekend was complete without them. Mary would read storybooks for hours, sing, make up silly games, play Monopoly or Skip Bo, or just hold onto her grandchildren as they rested.  The adoration was mutual. We are forever grateful that in the month before Mary passed away, she saw every one of her grandchildren.

Mary and Jim spent every holiday with their children and grandchildren and saw them regularly throughout the year.  Mary was the matriarch of the Horn family and took Jim’s brothers John and Joe on as hers to care for too.  Joe and his sons, Judd and Joe D., and John were always welcome in Mary and Jim’s home and when John was sick with cancer, Mary and Jim moved him into their home until he passed.  Mary loved Jim’s father, Grandpa Joe, as her own and they formed a special bond over the years.  Grandpa Joe’s sisters were very special to Mary, and she recently helped Aunt Bunny celebrate her 104th birthday. That was Mary; absolutely nothing came before family.

Mary and Jim spent 56 years working side by side.  Working for a better life.  Working to build a family.  Working for a better Denton, a better Texas, a better America.  Mary believed in personal freedom and hard work.  Mary believed in God and taught her children the importance of Faith. Mary didn’t ask anyone for anything.  She never lied.  Mary lived the American dream, and she believed each of us, no matter the circumstance, are capable of living it too.  Mary had the most beautiful blue eyes and a mega-watt smile.  She was always positive and kind.  Mary would help anyone.

Jim; Jennifer and her husband Donny and children Morgan, Michael and Elle; Jim and his wife Jennifer Davis Horn and their children Ashton, Knox, Francie, Houston, and Olive are all simply heartbroken at the loss of their MiMi. It was an honor to know her.  It was an honor to love her.  She will be missed every day.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate Mary’s life.  Viewing and funeral will be held at First Baptist Church, Denton.  Viewing will be Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00pm.  Funeral will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 2:00pm with a reception immediately following.  Burial services will be held at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin on Tuesday, May 16th at 11am with a reception immediately following.

Donations in Mary’s honor should be sent to the Children’s Advocacy Center of North Texas.  CACNorthTexas.org/judgehorn