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Mary Louise McGarry
Kasilof resident Mary Louise McGarry died Saturday Dec. 27, 2003, at home in
her sleep. She was 86.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m.
today, Dec. 30, at Spruce Grove Memorial Park in Kasilof. Pastor Floyd Seekins
will officiate. A reception will follow the service at the Kasilof Community
Church. Pallbearers will be Jeff McGarry, Mark McGarry, Bryan Hutchins, Curt
Wagoner, Ely Evanson and Joel Shields.
Mrs. McGarry was born Dec. 12, 1917, in Toledo,
Ohio. She graduated from Waite High School in Toledo. She moved to Kasilof in
August 1984.
She was a member of the Kasilof Community
Church. She was always there for moral support and cookies beyond the call of
duty.
"Known in the community as Grandma McGarry, she
and Grandpa set an extraordinary example of service in their retirement years.
From volunteering as a school secretary, substitute teacher and baby-sitter, to
helping Grandpa bake brownies and cookies for hundreds of youth activities. She
never tired of being involved with her own grandchildren as well as their many
friends she come to love as her own," her family said.
"There was no generation gap with her as she
was always available to play card games with the kids, discuss decades of
baseball while berating or bragging about her beloved L.A. Dodgers, hold World
Series parties with fried chicken and apple pie, tell stories of the old days,
debate politics, talk about books and movies, attend hundreds of local
basketball and baseball games and remember most everyone's birthday. She loved
all kids and freely gave them hugs and heartfelt words of encouragement. He
walls are filled with collages of photos from many of them. Even beyond her own
grandchildren who adored her, others young and old quickly adopted her.
"Her marriage and love affair of more than 63
years is a model for today's generation. Grandpa called her his 'buddy' and best
friend. When asked about their relationship he said, 'If the good lord made
anything better, he kept it for himself.'
"The only time they were ever apart was during
World War II. They were devoted to each other with Grandpa joyfully caring for
her during these past few years when she was bedridden. She never complained and
kept her sense of humor and cute grin, even snapping Grandpa's suspenders when
he bent down close to check on her.
"Her faith in Christ was her foundation and her
love for others was her life. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will
live on."
Mrs. McGarry is survived by her husband, John
McGarry of Kasilof; sons and their wives, Jack and Glynna McGarry of Kenai and
Jerry and Peggy McGarry of Kasilof; daughters and their husbands, Mary Jo and
John Davis of Kenai, and Patty and Steve Harnish of Garden Grove, Calif.;
grandchildren, Dawn Jayens, John McGarry II, Kathleen McGarry, Thomas McGarry,
Bryan Hutchins, Lindsay Hutchins, Lori Wagoner, Jeff McGarry, Ben McGarry, Mark
McGarry, Jennifer Harnish and Jessica Beaumont; and great-grandchildren, Shane
and Holly Johnson, Brandi and Trevor Wagoner, Rilee, Raegan, Jayse and Madalyn
McGarry and Vera Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
sent to the Kasilof Church Missionary Fund, P.O. Box 57, Kasilof, AK 99610.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial
Chapel.
Source: Peninsula Clarion, December 30, 2003
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