Mary Lucy Phalen, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s mother-in-law, dies at 86

AUSTIN — Mary Lucy Phalen, Gov. Greg Abbott’s mother-in-law, who starred in some of his most effective TV commercials as he rose up Texas’ political ladder, died late Saturday in San Antonio. She was 86.

Abbott, who joined his wife and daughter at Phelan’s bedside, imposed a moratorium on politics as he tended to the family crisis.

The Republican governor issued no statement on media organizations’ calling the presidential election for Democrat Joe Biden.

“I’m heartbroken to announce that the woman who became known as ‘mi suegra’ has passed away,” Abbott said in a written statement at 10:55 p.m. Saturday, using the Spanish for mother-in-law.

“During my 39 years of marriage to her daughter, Maria de la Luz ‘Lucy’ Phalen has been a constant source of love, strength and support, all of which were bolstered by her faith in God,” Abbott said.

“A first generation American and long-time teacher, Lucy always provided a lens to see the future through the eyes of limitless opportunity,” he said. “Her unending love was showered on family, friends, strangers and even stray animals. She loved everyone. That love surrounded her today as she passed with her family and loved ones by her side. Cecilia, Audrey and I keep her in our prayers as she finds peace on the path to Heaven.”

Phalen, whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, grew up in San Antonio and married Bill Phalen, who as a young Irish American had wanted to be a Catholic priest, said Daniel Hodge, a former Abbott staff member.

“She and Mr. Phalen played a very significant role in the governor’s life, certainly in his conversion to Catholicism,” said Hodge, who was Abbott’s chief of staff for about 15 years, as the state Supreme Court justice moved up to be state attorney general and then governor.

In 2014, Lucy Phalen, the former Maria de la luz Segura, became a celebrity of sorts with the famous “Madrina” TV ads she cut for Abbott.

In them, she spoke to camera and vouched for Abbott as trustworthy and a person with good values.

At the time, Texas Republicans were uncertain they could maintain their two-decades-long hold on the governor’s office. Abbott faced a hugely well-funded Democratic challenger in then-state Sen. Wendy Davis, then of Fort Worth.

The ads, in both English and Spanish, reinforced Abbott’s campaign theme that he, like an increasing number of Texans, is part of an ethnically blended family. He stressed that his wife, Cecilia, would be the state’s first Hispanic first lady.

After Abbott coasted to victory, he hailed Lucy Phelan at his swearing-in ceremony as “perhaps the most famous mother-in-law in Texas, mi madrina, Maria de la luz Segura Phalen.”

She reprised the role in Abbott’s 2018 romp over former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez.

“Four years ago, I promised that you would love having Greg Abbott as governor because he keeps his word and he loves Texas,” Phelan said in ads that year in which she retold the story of his conversion and her becoming his madrina.

Hodge, now an Austin lobbyist, said he met Phelan in March 2002, as Abbott, then a state Supreme Court justice, was trying to move up to attorney general.

Tipped by Cecilia Abbott that he ought to use his Spanish with her mother, Hodge did so. And the older Mexican American woman and the young Anglo lawyer from Fort Worth quickly forged a bond, he recounted.

“She very much had a dignified but approachable, grandmotherly presence about her – one of those people who you’re sort of drawn to, once you connect with her because you can tell she’s someone special,” he said.

Lucy Phelan also appeared in Abbott campaign ads long before 2014, Hodge recalled.

“Those ads just got less attention,” he said.

In either the 2002 race for attorney general or Abbott’s re-election effort four years later, Phelan began taping a commercial using a script.

“Where she really warmed up and lit up is when we just had her look into the camera, and I was behind the camera and asking her questions in both Spanish and English” about Cecilia and Greg Abbott and their daughter Audrey.

“There was this extra enthusiasm and brightness in her eyes when she talked about her family,” Hodge said. “She was very devoted to her family. She was also a very devout Catholic.”

Information about services was pending.