Mary Lee (Cottingham) Benedict

Mary Lee (Cottingham) Benedict

1933-2021

Born: January 14, 1933 /

Deceased: September 23, 2021

Mary Lee Cottingham Benedict was a 2nd generation native Houstonian. She is the daughter of Mary Lee MacKenzie Cottingham and George Wallace Cottingham. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Charles Heath Cottingham and George Wallace Cottingham, Jr., her husband, H. Yandell Benedict, and 2 of her children, Robert Lee Bakke and Gail Bakke Staples.

Mary Lee lived a very full and happy life. Her father held the prominent position of Editor in Chief of the Houston Chronicle during her formative years. Some of her favorite memories from childhood included attending Camp Waldemar in Hunt, Texas, for 6 summers. Her competitive and outgoing nature garnered her many honors and awards at camp.

She began her college studies at Marymount College in New York. Upon returning to Houston and while making her social debut, she met and married Oliver M Bakke (deceased). Together they raised their 5 children in Houston. While her children were young, she attended the University of St. Thomas to complete her degree. Mary Lee thoroughly enjoyed performing and entertaining. As a member of the Junior League of Houston, she participated in many of the Charity Ball productions over the years, including one at the age of 82! 

She also shared her acting talents on the stage, taking on several lead acting roles for the Children's Theatre productions.

In August of 1989, Mary Lee married Harry Yandell Benedict. After living most of her life in Houston, she moved to the small rural community of Crafton, Texas, northwest of Fort Worth. In 2003, missing Houston and her many friends, Mary Lee and Yandell returned to Houston to live out the rest of their years. During this time, Mary Lee became an active member and officer of the Newman Circle, a catholic women's organization, which was founded in 1909 by her grandmother.

Mary Lee will forever be loved and dearly missed by her surviving family members, son Oliver Mathias Bakke, III and his wife Julie; daughter Carol Bakke Gallagher and her husband Charlie; daughter Cathryn Bakke; her 8 adoring grandchildren, Ray Gallagher and wife Emily; Clayton Gallagher and Mandy Wheeler; Travis Gallagher and Caitlin McWeeney; Moira Gallagher and Chip Connell; Addison Staples; MacKenzie Staples and Bret Presswood; James Bakke and Jenny Cahill; Andrew Bakke and wife Erin; her 6 great grandsons, Elijah, Alyxander, and Cedric Gallagher; Connor and Ethan Gallagher; and Benjamin Bakke; her cousin, Laurence Cottingham and all of her Cottingham nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Houston Hospice for their attentive and compassionate service.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on October 8 at 10:30 am at Our Lady of the Lourdes Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway.