White, Sr. Mary Pat, O.P. (Sr. M. Simeon, O.P.)
03/01/1931 - 01/04/2019
Sr. Mary Pat (Sr. Simeon) was born in Houston to the late Harris and Anna Marie Durham White. She attended elementary school at Christ the King Catholic School and graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 1949. Sr. Mary Pat attended Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College) for one year before joining the Dominican Sisters of Houston in 1950. She earned her B.A. in history with a minor in education from Dominican College and her M.A. from the University of Houston. Sr. Mary Pat ministered in education for 51 years, and 40 of those years were at St. Agnes. She taught in elementary schools in Houston, Beaumont, and Nederland, Texas, and taught high school at St. Agnes and St. Pius X High School in Houston and at Monsignor Kelly High School in Beaumont. During her teaching ministry, Sr. Mary Pat primarily taught history; however, in 1970 she became the driver’s education instructor at St. Agnes, which she and her young women students mutually enjoyed for 33 years! Some of her students recall that Sr. Mary Pat’s foot was ever ready at the instructor’s brake as they entered the freeway and her attention alert to their every move. Her love of sports, particularly softball, golf and volleyball, and her vacations with friends buoyed her already congenial nature. After retirement, Sr. Mary Pat served as driver for the congregation’s retirement home, St. Dominic Villa, and worked in the congregation’s archives and Guatemala mission office.