Death certificate of

Mary Ann Burris Foster

which indicates she died of senile decay.

Senile decay was a term of the time used to describe "of old age."

 

Greenwood Cemetery

Wise County, Texas

Mary Foster's birth certificate indicates she was born May 23, 1848 and died on December 19, 1933, which I believe to be the correct dates. Whoever placed this stone on her grave in the 1990's got the dates just a little wrong.

From her internment until the 1990's, her grave was only marked by the funeral home's metal stake and nameplate. Someone in north Texas must still remember her (obviously a grandchild) and loved her enough to take the time and money to properly mark her grave.

I attempted to find out who this person(s) was in 2003, but my telephone calls to local monument makers were unsuccessful.  They said they could only research their records if I could provide the name of the purchaser, as that is their method of filing.  The person who purchased this stone should be thanked for their thoughtfulness, and I continue to search for this person.