01/08/1933 – 05/21/2023

A kind and gentle soul, Mary Quinton Santoro, 90, of Elkhart, Texas was born to Maydelle and Roy Quinton on January 8, 1933 in San Felipe, Texas and passed away on May 21, 2023 in Palestine, Texas.

Born and raised on a working farm, Mary completed her early education in a one-room schoolhouse. She rode to class aboard Dolly, the trusted family horse who could be relied on to clop back and forth between destinations without assistance.

On her own at the age of sixteen, Mary decided to give city-life a try in Houston.  She attended college, worked as a secretary for Union Pacific Railroad, and enjoyed a brief career as a fashion model—culminating with an appearance in Glamour Magazine.

The country Texas girl’s life unexpectedly changed following a visit to Hawaii and a pleasant encounter on the beach.  The professional runway model and the World War II Army veteran took one look at each other and never looked back for fifty-one years.  Mary traveled throughout the United States with her husband Dominic Santoro, an accomplished musician who touched elbows with Frank Sinatra and shared the same talent agent as friend Louis Armstrong.

 Among the many treasured Santoro memories was the time spent immersed in the Las Vegas casino entertainment scene of the 1950’s.  Dom introduced Mary to acquaintances like Elvis, Ginger Rogers, Howard Hughes, and Liberace.  The latter was her favorite.  Mary, wearing a pink dress and matching princess heels, was rendered practically speechless upon meeting the singing pianist.  And who could forget Nat King Cole singing “Happy Birthday” to their three-year-old daughter Catherine?

Eschewing their nomadic existence, the couple settled in El Centro, California to start Catherine in kindergarten.  Mary worked as a dental assistant and secretary while Dominic fronted for an in-house band.  However, a devastating nightclub fire and frequent pleas from Dominic’s large family to “come home,” persuaded the trio to move to New York City.

As always, they embraced life’s next adventure with energy.  In the Big Apple, Mary once again re-invented herself by beginning what would become a twenty-five-year career as a business administrator for Miller Tube Corporation of America.  Dominic continued to find ample work as a performer.

Upon retirement, with Dominic, Catherine, and granddaughter Yasmine in tow, Mary returned to her rural Texas roots. She was attracted by the verdant beauty of Palestine and by the fact that one of her brothers called the community home. Mary soon took up gardening and spectacular gardens filled with vegetables and flowers resulted. She loved sharing the fruits of her labor.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Maydelle and Roy, her beloved husband Dom, her siblings Raymond, Lowell, Clyde, Charles, James, and Levy, and son-in-law Larry Hooper.

She is survived by her daughter Catherine Hooper of Elkhart, granddaughter Yasmine Anderson and husband Chris of Austin, great-granddaughter Louise Anderson also of Austin, canine companion Rosie, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staffs of Legacy at Town Creek and to Hospice of East Texas. They are particularly grateful for the loving attention given to Mary by Liz Rodriguez.

A private ceremony to celebrate Mary’s life is to be scheduled for a later date. Condolence messages may be left on the Boren-Conner Funeral Home website (borenconner.com).  For those who wish to honor Mary’s memory please donate a tree in her name through the Arbor Day Foundation (arborday.org) or to a favorite charity.