Maureen O'toole Gomez

Maureen “Mickey” O’Toole Gomez passed away peacefully at home in Houston, Texas, on April 23, 2026, at the age of 84. Born on June 4, 1941, in Albany, New York, Mickey was the daughter of Margaret Kirsch O’Toole and William Lawrence O’Toole. She grew up in Albany with her sisters, Ginger and Charlotte, to whom she was especially close and cherished deeply. Mickey was proud of her Irish heritage and remained a New Yorker her whole life. Growing up, Mickey was a strong student and natural leader, serving as president of her high school class and earning honor roll distinction. She attended the College of Saint Rose, a Catholic college, where she was recognized in ”Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities”. During her college years, she spent a summer in Cape Cod waiting tables with friends—an experience that fostered her independence and lifelong love of the beach. Following college, she joined the Catholic Lay Extension Volunteer Program and was assigned to Ponca City, Oklahoma, where she began her career as an English teacher. There, she met her husband, Edgar “Buddy” Gomez, through church. Their group of friends who went skiing together became known as the “Bend-Z-Knees”, and remained close, gathering regularly well into their retirement years. Mickey and Buddy married in 1965 and began building their family. Their first child, Tess, was born in Ponca City, then came Don in New Orleans, and finally they settled in Houston, where they welcomed two more sons, Matthew and Michael. Mickey’s Catholic faith was central to her life. She participated in a long-standing discussion group with dear friends, that grew into a deeply supportive community. She taught Sunday school, and was later involved in the Theresian community. Her faith guided her life and relationships. Mickey was known for her warmth, generosity, and ability to make others feel at home. She was a devoted mother and grandmother—“Gigi”—, and became a “second mom” to many of her children’s friends, creating a home that welcomed all. She enjoyed several deep friendships, especially with fellow mothers that lived in the neighborhood. She valued education and lifelong learning, and was an avid reader throughout her life. She also had a deep appreciation for art and was a devotee of The New Yorker magazine, famously wallpapering multiple rooms in her homes with its covers. In her second career as a paralegal at Marathon Oil, she was a valued member of the legal staff and enjoyed collaborating with colleagues—often tackling the New York Times crossword puzzles together. Mickey expressed her creativity through sewing for many years. She made clothing for her children—including matching outfits for family trips—as well as prom dresses, Halloween costumes, doll clothes, and items for the home such as pillows and curtains. Later in life, she developed a deep passion for quilting, which she approached as an art form. She collected fabrics, studied quilting styles, read quilting magazines, joined quilting groups, and attended quilting shows. Mickey enjoyed traveling with her husband and friends and took great interest in the places she visited. She loved time at the beach, especially at San Luis Pass in Galveston, where she collected seashells. Every Spring, she made a tradition of going to see the Texas Bluebonnets in bloom. For 21 years, she and Buddy spent time in Vermont, returning each year to escape the Houston heat and reconnect with her Northeastern roots. Mickey will be remembered for her deep faith, her creativity, her intellect, her sense of humor, and the love she gave so freely to family and friends. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her. Mickey is preceded in death by her parents, Margaret Kirsch O’Toole and William Lawrence O’Toole. She is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, Edgar “Buddy” Gomez; her sisters, Virginia “Ginger” O’Toole Bailey (Peter); and Charlotte Mary O’Toole; her four children: Theresa “Tess” Gomez Hawes of Kansas City; Don Anthony Gomez (Collyn) of Atlanta; Matthew William Gomez (Shannon) of Houston; and Michael Paul Gomez of Berlin, Germany; as well as her eight cherished grandchildren: Morgan Elizabeth Gomez, Abby Carter Gomez, Edwin “Hugh” Hawes, Matthew Christian Gomez, Charlotte O’Toole Hawes, Virginia “Ginger” Elizabeth Hawes, Margaret “Margot” Louise Hawes, and Caden Davis Gomez. The Gomez family invites guests to join for visitation at 5:30 p.m. with Rosary to begin at 6:00 p.m. Thursday June 4, 2026 at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at St. Edith Stein Catholic Church, 3311 North Fry Road, Katy, Texas 77449, followed by a reception. Funeral mass will also be livestreamed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Advance – Partnering for Healthy Communities (https://advancecommunity.org) in Mickey’s honor.

Maureen O'toole Gomez

June 4, 1941 - April 23, 2026