Mozelle Pace Friday

Mozelle Pace Friday, 85, transitioned to the other side on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. A school teacher, avid Bridge player, beachcomber, and mother of three, she was born in Brownsville on July 12, 1929, at the old Mercy Hospital.
Mozelle taught school for 34 years, beginning her career at Cromack Elementary on Southmost Road in Brownsville. An old black and white photograph shows her at the age of 26 posed outside her classroom, a decommissioned Army barrack. Also in the photo are 42 boys and girls whose first language was Spanish. Her job was to teach them all to read in English.
During her years in the classroom she would teach a multitude of first and second graders to read and write, not only at Cromack, but also Palm Grove Elementary in Brownsville, Garriga Elementary in Port Isabel and Stewart Elementary in Salina, Kansas.
Mozelle loved the beach and lived on South Padre Island for six years. A dedicated beachcomber, she collected many a washed-up shell on her morning and evening walks. Over the years she made art with some of those shells and upon her passing donated her extensive shell collection to the Children's Museum of Brownsville to be used for art projects.
At the age of 15, Mozelle left Brownsville to attend The Hockaday School in Dallas. Following her graduation from the private college preparatory school, she attended Southern Methodist University, also in Dallas. She graduated in 1950 from SMU with a Bachelor in Business Administration in Marketing. She also took education classes, which afforded her the credentials she needed to teach.
At SMU, Mozelle was a member of Phi Chi Theta, an honorary business fraternity, in addition to the social fraternity, Chi Omega, where she met several "sisters" who would become dear friends.
Having chosen a career in teaching, Mozelle earned in 1961 a Masters Degree in Elementary Education at Texas A&I in Kingsville, now a branch of Texas A&M.
Mozelle's parents, Zenobia and James W. Pace, arrived in Brownsville in 1926. Mozelle was the second of four children. Her father was the proprietor of Pace Grocery, located on Central Boulevard for 60 years.
Mozelle was a devoted Bridge player whose circle of friends was made up of a wide variety of folks, including winter visitors who lived in Texas and other states. When she retired from teaching she set her sights on travel in foreign countries. Whether in Norway, Australia or Costa Rica she made new friends and wonderful memories.
She was a proud member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Mozelle is survived by her three children, Kay Vinson of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and her partner, Montana Walsh; Shelley Vinson Stewart of Mesquite, Texas, and her husband, Mike Stewart; and Laurel Lee Friday of Mansfield, Texas. She is also survived by her two brothers, Jim Pace, Jr. and Pat LeRoy Pace, Sr., both of Brownsville.
Mozelle was pre-deceased by Frances Meyer, the love of her life and dear companion for more than a decade; and her sister, Betty Jeanne Pace Dodd. Mozelle is also blessed with five grandchildren; Casey Justice Stewart, Drew Sessions Stewart, Samuel Pace Stewart, Riana Marie Friday-Thompson, Sara Rae Friday-Thompson and one great-grandson, Darcel Cummings lll.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Good Neighbor Settlement House, which is affiliated with the First United Methodist Church of Brownsville, Texas.
A memorial service celebrating Mozelle's life is scheduled for 10:30 am Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church, 1225 Boca Chica Boulevard in Brownsville.

Service

Cemetery

Memorial Contributions