Mary Lou Cardenas

Mary Lou (Escalon) Cardenas, 77, passed away Friday, May 30, 2025 at her home in Iowa City.

Mary Lou was born November 29, 1947 in Donna, Texas the daughter of Eleno and Clara (Gonzalez) Escalon. On July 17, 1985 she was united in marriage to Reynaldo F. Cardenas in Albany, Texas.

She is survived by her husband Reynaldo, six children: Marty (Barb) Navarro,  Andy (Tammy) Navarro, Richard Valdez, Veronica (Tony) Clark, Reynaldo N. (April) Cardenas and Eduardo Cardenas, 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, sisters: Terry Valdez, Sandy (Sam) Escalon, Sylvia (Duke) Contreras, brothers: John (Robbie), Tony, Joe (Lisa), and Ricky Escalon, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Eleno and Clara (Gonzalez) Escalon, brothers: Mike and Dee, sisters: Carmen Sumrall, Brenda Navarro, and Mary Helen Reyes, and two babies: "Little Joe" Navarro and Sylvia Nicole Guillen.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, 3910 Napolean Lane, Iowa  52240.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Throckmorton, Texas, followed by inurnment at the Throckmorton Cemetery in Throckmorton, Texas.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.smithfamilyfh.com.