Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mary Sue Wittauer |
| Known as | Mary Sue Dean (after marriage) |
| Approximate birth | circa 1929 (unconfirmed) |
| Spouse | Jimmy Ray Dean (married July 11, 1950; divorced 1990) |
| Children | Garry Dean, Connie Dean, Robert Dean |
| Primary residences noted | Tenafly, New Jersey (family period) |
| Public profile | Primarily known as spouse of entertainer and entrepreneur; appearances in mid 20th century publicity and archival photographs |
| Legal note | Divorce filed in 1990; support claim reported during proceedings |
| Death | Some genealogical entries list a 2013 death date as unverified |
Family and Personal Relationships
Mary Sue Wittauer stood at the center of a family that orbited fame and the slow churn of everyday life. Her most prominent relationship was her marriage to Jimmy Ray Dean, a singer and businessman whose public life cast a long shadow. They married on July 11, 1950, and the couple raised three children over roughly four decades of partnership and upheaval. The household formed the core of Mary Sue’s public identity, yet behind the public photographs was a private woman who carried household responsibilities, family events, and the quiet labor of keeping a home while a spouse pursued a career in the spotlight.
| Family Member | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Ray Dean | Husband (1950-1990) | Entertainer and entrepreneur; marriage produced three children; marriage ended in divorce in 1990. |
| Garry Dean | Son | Eldest son; associated with regional business and family events. |
| Connie Dean (later Connie Taylor) | Daughter | Daughter and mother in the next generation; appears in family photographs and notices. |
| Robert Dean | Son | Youngest son; referenced in family biographies and photographs. |
| Herbert Joseph Wittauer | Father | Listed in genealogical records as Mary Sue’s father. |
| Carrie D. Householder | Mother | Listed in genealogical records as Mary Sue’s mother. |
Each entry in the family table is a doorway into a private life. Garry moved through business circles and family gatherings. Connie carries the family line into newer generations. Robert represents the quieter branch of the children, less present in public narratives but part of the household fabric. Mary Sue’s parents appear in genealogical reconstructions, suggesting roots that predate the public story that later attached itself to the Dean name.
Career and Public Role
Mary Sue did not pursue a documented public career of her own in the way her husband did. Her public role was that of a spouse and family figure who appeared in publicity photographs and at functions connected to the entertainment life of Jimmy Dean. Those images show a companion who stood alongside a public man, a supporting actor in the silent drama of celebrity life. There are no records of independent business filings, industry awards, or a personal brand built in her name. Her contributions are measured in presence and proximity rather than in credits or trophies.
She functioned as part of a mid century tableau: the spouse who appears in promotional shoots, the mother who attends events, the woman whose identity is often recorded as an adjunct to a more visible partner. That reality places her in the long line of individuals whose work is domestic and relational yet never quite receives public registration.
Financial Status and Legal Matters
There is little information available to the public on Mary Sue’s personal finances. What is documented are aspects related to her marriage’s dissolution. She filed for divorce and requested spousal maintenance in 1990; the amount reported at the time was substantial and startling. Information regarding her personal assets, investments, or estate holdings in her own name is not easily accessible in public records outside of the divorce process. The financial remnants of her life fade into personal ledgers and family arrangements following the divorce, which are not included in popular narratives.
Although Mary Sue’s post-divorce financial fallout is not well recorded, her husband’s subsequent economic success indicates that the home environment was one of significant financial movement. In public accounting, her name is still linked to a certain legal moment and family rather than a clear financial portfolio.
Recent Mentions and Public Memory
Mary Sue’s name has largely appeared in family memories and retrospectives in recent decades. Fans and historians who research mid-century country music culture and the related entrepreneurial tales continue to revisit her appearances in archive photo collections. Social media posts on family history usually have a nostalgic or commemorative tone. Her persona is not the subject of an ongoing public discussion or a prolonged modern media career.
Images and family listings serve as her public remembrance. The recollection has the impression of a photograph, a single still image that suggests a more complex story.
Extended Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| circa 1929 | Approximate birth year listed in genealogical records; not officially confirmed |
| July 11, 1950 | Marriage to Jimmy Ray Dean |
| 1950s to 1960s | Public appearances and family life during Jimmy Dean’s rise in entertainment |
| 1950s to 1970s | Births of three children: Garry, Connie, Robert (exact dates not widely published) |
| 1980s | Family associated with residence in Tenafly, New Jersey |
| 1990 | Divorce filed; spousal support sought during proceedings |
| 1991 onward | Jimmy Dean remarried; Mary Sue’s public profile diminished |
| June 13, 2010 | Death of Jimmy Dean; family retrospectives reference Mary Sue as his first wife |
| 2013 (unverified) | Some genealogical entries list a death date for Mary Sue; this remains unconfirmed in primary public records |
The timeline reads like a ledger of public moments and private absences. Dates stand like signposts along a road that is otherwise filled with the ordinary intervals of life: births, school years, dinners, anniversaries, and the small domestic acts that build a family.
FAQ
Who was Mary Sue Wittauer?
Mary Sue Wittauer was the first wife of entertainer Jimmy Ray Dean and the mother of three children, known primarily through family photographs and public mentions tied to her husband’s career.
When did she marry Jimmy Dean?
She married Jimmy Ray Dean on July 11, 1950, and their marriage lasted until a divorce filing in 1990.
Who are her children?
Her children are Garry Dean, Connie Dean, and Robert Dean, each of whom appears in family notices and photographs across decades.
Did Mary Sue have a public career?
No independent public career is recorded; her public presence largely came through appearances as a spouse and in archival photographs.
What happened in the 1990 divorce?
A divorce was filed in 1990 and spousal support was sought; the legal proceedings mark the most prominent public turning point for her in newspaper accounts.
Is there public information about her birth or death?
Genealogical entries suggest a birth around 1929 and an unverified death date in 2013, but official confirmation of those vital records is not widely published.
