Mary Elizabeth (Pierce) Malone
December 16, 1943 ~ November 16, 2017 (age 73)
Mary first saw the light of day while her parents, Everette and Agnes (Taylor) Pierce, were living in Birmingham caring for their first child, Sammy. She is remembered as “a child of warm smiles who charmed all that she met”.
Somerville became home for Mary’s family that included; her mother and father, brothers; Sam and Tom and sister; Kay, who was her best friend throughout her life, and Hillard Long. She began first grade in the local courthouse that served as the grammar school. Her early foray into academics didn’t go well, and she had trouble in everything except riding the see-saw on the rockwall that surrounded the courthouse. A move to the front of the classroom so that she could see and hear better what the teacher was doing, didn’t help.
“The child can’t see “, the family eye-doctor in Decatur said. Wearing glasses helped Mary excel in school as she would earn Valedictorian honors her senior year at Priceville High School, while cheering the Bulldogs on to the “61” state basketball championship.
Life wasn’t without hardships during her growing up years. In her preteen years, Mary was in bed several months because of “Brights Disease” and during her teenage years she was in a car wreck that broke her back in several places.
Exhibiting the tenacious spirit of her Mother, Father and her “favorite aunt” Erma Taylor, Mary left her beloved home in Somerville and began walking the halls of her father’s Alma Mater, Florence State Teacher’s College, known today as the University of North Alabama.
While earning a degree in home economics, Mary was a member of Kitchen Delta Pie, flor-ala staff and was an officer in the Women’s Student Government Association.
It was at college that she met her future husband, John Malone. They began an odyssey that saw them live in 22 cities and 10 countries.
Besides being a homemaker, she worked outside the home in many of these places. She taught school and supervised the professor’s dining facility at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She was a dietician in two hospitals and managed the Children’s Chow Hall at Royal Air Force Base at Upper Heyford, England.
Mary and John and their daughter, Lisa, returned home to North Alabama after being on the road for over 29 years.
From her Antebellum period, Colonial style home in Courtland, Alabama, Mary began what she termed her “most enjoyable career” as a Home Extension Agent. She received several awards for her outstanding work in this field, two times chosen as the top agent in the state.
The onset of Alzheimer’s caused Mary to take early retirement, the beginning of a frustration that tormented her till the end.
The honor of conveying the “Earthly Tent” that was Mary in Shiloh Church Cemetery has been bestowed upon: Phillip Rhegness, Chris Pierce, Adam Pierce, Dustin Pierce, Kyle Haynes and Seth Rhegness.
Funeral service arrangements have been entrusted to Peck Funeral Home of Hartselle. A pleasant interlude to remember and celebrate Mary’s sun that has dipped into the West, will be observed on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at Shiloh Baptist Church in Somerville, Alabama. It will begin at half past fourteen hundred hours (2:30 P.M.) at Shiloh Baptist Church with J.Cook “Buddy” Dover and Rev. John W. Malone officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Shiloh Baptist Church.
Mary’s soul has entered those heavenly mansions to prepare a room for those of us who remain within the bounds of Earth. Her remains will be placed beside the markers of her deeply loved and “honored parents”, Everette and Agnes and her brother and soulmate, Sammy. She will be sharing a headstone with her precious daughter: Marilisa.
