Mary Louise Tovar (née Rios) passed away peacefully on February 16, 2024 at the age of 87 from cancer. She was a never ending source of unconditional love. She was a loving sister, mother, memaw, great-grandmother, cousin, and friend to many in Austin and at her parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe. She will be greatly missed by many, especially her family. Mary Louise was born at St. David’s Hospital in Austin on January 21, 1937, the youngest child of Ofelia Rios (née Gonzalez) and Rudolph Rios. Like her father, Mary Louise was raised on E. 7th Street. She spent her youth surrounded by the homes of her maternal grandparents, Adolfo and Felicitas Gonzalez, and her many uncles, aunts, and cousins on E. 7th. She is a graduate of Austin High School and retiree of the University of Texas at Austin Chancellor's office. Mary Louise married Paul Tovar in 1960. Together they had four children: Milissa, Blyth, Paul Anthony and Melinda. Although their marriage ended in 1971, she continued to raise her children and grandchildren as one big family spending every holiday together until her passing. Mary Louise was the epitome of a lady. She was kind, elegant, full of grace, and very beautiful. Though, unlike some ladies, she was very fond of telling strangers her age. She enjoyed time with her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, especially to places in Europe. She was very fond of Paris. She enjoyed spending time with her family whether it was the mundane like shopping, movies, meals, or annual traditions like post-midnight mass Christmas celebrations. She loved dancing and could often be found on the dance floor, dancing for hours without ever breaking a sweat. Mary Louise was a devout catholic. She was a eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for many years. She was active within the parish, helping with various church activities over the decades she was a parishioner. She and her brother, Rudy, could often be seen each year at the Jamaica bingo. Mary Louise is preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph Rios and Ofelia Rios, and great-grandson, Tycho Louis Bradly. Mary Louise is survived by a family who misses her dearly including her brother, Rudolph Rios. She is survived by her four children, daughter Milissa (Tovar) Cuellar and spouse Nash Cuellar; daughter Blyth (Tovar) Rehberg and spouse Steve Rehberg; son Paul Anthony Tovar and spouse Melinda Gonzales; and daughter Melinda Tovar-Salazar. She is survived by the lucky man who was once married to her, Paul Tovar and his longterm partner, Frances Prudhomme. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Matthew Cuellar (Ashley), Allison Bradly (Sean), Ashley Sousa (Sean), and Nicolas Tovar-Salazar (Charis). She is survived by her four great-grandchildren Matthew Holt, Josiah, Carter, and Gray. Mary Louise was a source of unrelenting support for her children and grandchildren. Joke battles were often fought over who had the most rights to claim her love and attention amongst her kids and grandkids. She was truly the best mom and memaw! Mary Louise’s rosary service will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on February 21st, 2024 at 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on February 22nd, 2024 at 1:00 PM. Burial will directly follow funeral services at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. A funeral reception will be held at the Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Parish Hall following burial. In consideration of the Lenten season and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Jude, which was a cause dear to her heart.