Mary Black Daehler (5/2/1921-10/7/2020) was the youngest of five children born to Gertrude and George Black in Swainsboro, GA. Upon graduating Georgia State College for Women with an Associate’s Degree, Mary became a flight attendant for a Latin American airline (TAN) and, quickly thereafter, a fluent speaker of Spanish. Years later, working at Florida’s Anaconda Real Estate firm, she fell for their star salesman, Ken Daehler. They would become the love of each other’s life, after failed first marriages. The couple built a small beachfront resort in Pompano and managed it together until just before Ken’s death in 1971. Both had been active members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mary continued living in Sea Ranch Lakes, cared for her family, became a realtor, traveled, enjoyed her dogs and backyard bird feeders. She frequently hosted visitors from impoverished Spanish-speaking nations flown to Florida for donated medical care, unavailable in their home countries. In 2009, Mary moved to Tennessee to live out the rest of her days with her daughter, Susan Hickmann. Always the model of decency and kindness, Mary was the epitome of the Good Samaritan. She’ll be missed by all who knew her. Mary is survived by her daughter, Susan Hickmann (Charlie, her ex-husband and friend) and son, Jake Daehler (Carmen Lamar) as well as 15 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren from her children and deceased step-children (Arden Rhode and Gay Price). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Southern Poverty Law Center. Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon TN, 615.444.9393.
