Mary Iletha Graham Earp
Mary Iletha Graham Earp died Dec. 29, 2025, after a long and valiant battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Bulbar Onset. She walked directly into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ and immediately gained a healthy body which will live for eternity.
Funeral services took place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025, at Southmont Baptist Church in Denton, Texas. Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home in Denton, with whom the family entrusted Mary’s final arrangements.
Mary was born to Grover and Ozada Kesler Graham in Wellington, Texas on Oct. 3, 1944. She spent her younger years in school and aiding the farm. She attended Wellington schools and graduated Wellington High School in 1963. While in high school, Mary excelled in academics, home economics, cooking, music and volunteerism.
Mary attended the University of North Texas (then North Texas State University) beginning in 1963. She studied Home Economics, focused on becoming a teacher. While at UNT, she met James Bradley Earp at the Baptist Student Union. They married in August 1967 after they both graduated. Later in life, Mary and James funded a conference room in the new BSM building at UNT. That room bears their name to this day.
Mary and James had two children, David and Rachel. Mary’s life centered on family, faith and home. Mary was a pioneer in Denton La Leche League. She served as preschool minister and loved singing in the choir at First Baptist Church in Denton. She shared her musical abilities as church organist at Southmont Baptist Church.
An active member of Denton Benefit League for many years, Mary thoroughly enjoyed the service opportunities supplied there. She served as Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president, a band mom, a football mom and a fan to all local teams.
Mary used her amazing sewing skills to serve her community. She was an avid member of the Denton Quilting Guild, and her family is blessed by the wealth of quilts she left to them. She worked at Margie’s Fabrics in Denton and taught sewing lessons there. She constructed beautiful, quilted banners for First Baptist Church Denton to celebrate seasons and events.
While pursuing her master’s degree in Fashion at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Mary assisted TWU students in clothing construction and helped them achieve their goals.
The principal and foremost concern of Mary’s life was her ardent love for the Bible and for sharing Jesus Christ with others. In many settings—healthcare, service, etc.—Mary spoke the Gospel to all in earshot. None were left wondering what she believed. She always offered God’s love and care to others. That was the core of her personality.
Mary is predeceased by her husband, James Earp; her son, David Earp; sister-in-law Anne Graham; and her niece, Libby Manning Garcia.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Rachel Earp Knowles, AJ and Sadie Knowles, of Corinth, Texas; daughter-in-law and son-in-law DLynn Earp Miracle and Mark Miracle, of Argyle, Texas; grandchildren Tatum Earp, Hadley Miracle and William and Veronica Miracle, of Argyle; brother Grover Graham, of Argyle; sister and brother-in-law Nancy Graham Manning and Tommy Manning, of Amarillo, Texas; and many great-nieces and nephews.
Mary considered her friends as family. The Knowles/Earp clan pays special tribute to Linda Davis, Anne Beidleman and Jane Naugher. These ladies have been steadfast friends to Mary in the very hardest days. We are so thankful.
Tributes to Mary may be made to the ALS Association, ALS.org., or to UNT Baptist Student Ministry at UNT Baptist Student Ministry, General Donations.
Mary’s family extends sincere thanks to Dr. Scott Simms, Sage Oak, Village on the Park, Heart To Heart Hospice and UNT Southwestern Neurology. Thank you for caring for us.
