Rickey and Bernadine Mariott

Rick and Bernadine Mariott passed away on September 4, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 11, at Trinity Baptist Church in Gatesville. Interment will follow at Bee House Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, at Scott's Funeral Home.

“Rick” Mariott was born on March 2, 1951, to Oleta and Fred D. Mariott. Bernadine Ruth Conner Mariott was born on December 3, 1950, to Burnard Boyce and Pauline Conner. Their story began in Bee House, a small community near Evant, Texas, where they grew up, attended school, and eventually became high school sweethearts.

Rick spent his youth hunting, fishing, and helping on his parents’ farm and ranch in Pearl alongside his brother and best friend, Randy. Bernadine’s happiest childhood memories included playing Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, riding her horse, Raymond, and searching for arrowheads with her father in the canyons and hills near her home in Bee House.

At Evant High School, Rick played football, basketball and ran track, while Bernadine excelled on the basketball court. Their paths continued together at Tarleton State University, where Bernadine played basketball as a Lady Texan. They married on December 26, 1970, beginning a partnership that would last 55 years. Ten years later, they welcomed their daughter, Susan Aleece, their greatest pride and everpresent source of joy.

Beloved by generations of students, Bernadine taught mathematics at both the high school and collegiate levels for 42 years. She had a remarkable heart for her students and was known for her patience, humorous math songs, and her determination to convince even the most reluctant student that “math is fun.”

Rick began as a shop teacher, a fabricator, and later a plant manager for Gardner Denver in Fort Worth before starting his own company manufacturing parts for offshore drilling equipment. He treasured the many lifelong friendships made through the course of his career.

Rick believed he “could say more with a few words than most people could with many.” When he did speak, however, people listened. He was an avid reader who could talk at length about history, science, hunting, shooting, and just about anything. He had a wonderfully capable mind and an extraordinary memory for the teachers, professors, and experiences of his past.

Bernadine had a gift for making people feel cared for and loved. The quintessential hostess, she offered an abundance of food to anyone who came through her door. She was the first to drive someone to an appointment, bring a meal, lend a listening ear, or simply show up when needed.

Marked by devotion, perseverance, and humor, their marriage exemplified an unwavering commitment to family. They attended St. Mark United Methodist Church in Cleburne before retiring to the Evant area where they were members of Pearl Community Fellowship. For both Rick and Bernadine, their greatest joy was their family which grew to include son-in-law, Clay Corley, and their three cherished granddaughters, Addison, Reese, and Harper.

Meant to be grandparents, they rarely missed a play, song at church, basketball or volleyball game, or swim meet. Even after the family moved to Georgia, Bernadine remained only a phone call away, always ready to listen, offer wisdom, or help with Pre-Calculus and Calculus. Rick found special joy in becoming “Pop.” He adored his granddaughters who brought out a softer side of him–even allowing them to play with his beloved cowboy hat. Together, Rick and Bernadine delighted in watching their granddaughters grow and were immensely proud of the young women they became.

In retirement, they enjoyed a quieter life surrounded by family, friends, and the places they always considered home. Rick and Bernadine were different in many ways—she was a woman of warmth and words, he a man who preferred to say just a few—but they shared the qualities that mattered most: loyalty, hard work, generosity, humor, faith, and an abiding love for one another. They walked through life together, building a family, serving others, making friends, and creating a home filled with love.

Rick and Bernadine are preceded in death by Bernadine’s parents, Burnard “Boyce” and Pauline Conner; her brother, Ashley Conner; and Rick’s parents, Oleta and Fred D. Mariott.

Their greatest legacy is not simply what they accomplished, but the people they loved and the lives they touched. They are survived by their daughter, Susan, and husband, Clay; beloved granddaughters, Addison, Reese, and Harper; Bernadine’s brother, Paul Conner, wife, Lori, and their children Douglas, Melissa, Candyce, and Jeremy, along with their families; Rick’s brother, Randy Mariott, wife, Carol, and their children Wes, Holly, Russell, and Sarah, along with their families; and countless cherished friends and former students.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Pearl Community Fellowship in Pearl, Texas, or to the Christian charity of your choice.