Mary Mattingly

A dedicated and exquisite educator and a true believer in Jesus Christ, Dr. Mary Mattingly passed away peacefully on July 16, 2021.  An only child, she was born Mary Ramona Mattingly to Dr. Michael G. and Verna M. Mattingly in Lima, Ohio on July, 11, 1940.

Mary received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Spanish at the University of Dayton, Ohio in 1962, Master of Arts degree in Political Science at Saint Louis University in East Lansing in 1964, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, specializing in Judicial Process and Behavior, in 1969.

For over 41 years Mary Mattingly worked in many capacities at Texas A & I University and then Texas A & M University- Kingsville.  She was a Professor of Government, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Science Department.   For many years, Mary taught the key Constitutional Law class. (POLS is now combined with the History, Philosophy and Criminal Justice programs.)  Dr. Mattingly was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for eight years (1994-2002).  She served on many committees in the university; for example, Mary was Accreditation Liaison Officer and served on the Constitutional Task Force.  She was instrumental in starting a Women’s Study program on campus.

Over the span of her career, Mary helped prepare hundreds of students for success in law school and beyond. Her students often commented that Mary walked into the classroom lecturing and was truly interested in their success.  Fluent in Spanish, she spent Saturdays visiting her beloved friend and caregiver, Patricia Cypher; they always spoke Spanish together.

A member of St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church, Mary attended daily Mass, was a  Lector, and a School Board member of St. Gertrude’s Catholic School.

She is preceded in death by her son Walter Michael Ebarb and her husband Walt Ebarb.

A Holy Rosary will be recited on Friday, July 23, 2021, at 7 p.m. at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd. Kingsville, Texas. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at St. Gertrude The Great Catholic Church, 1120 S. 8th St. Kingsville, Texas. Services will conclude after Memorial Mass.