Mary Pylant Beaver Michels, of Huntsville, passed away Sunday. Mary was Salutatorian of Ardmore High School in 1943, and married James E. Beaver on June 1, 1946. She worked at BellSouth Telephone Company starting in 1949 and was assistant manager of personnel for 16 years. Mary worked as a recruiter for BellSouth for 90 schools in north Alabama and retired with 31 years of service. During that time she also held the position of president of the Metropolitan Business and Professional Women’s Club and held every position available with the Telephone Pioneers. She was a runner-up for Teletalkers of Alabama.
Mary was involved with financial, church, and charitable organizations too numerous to name. She was a member of West Huntsville and Twickenham Church of Christ and taught Bible school starting in 1957. Mary traveled the world with James Beaver until he passed away in 1979. She then moved to Tuscaloosa for ten years and was president of the Arcadia Women’s Club. She returned to Huntsville in 1990 and began to study Bridge where she met James R. Michels. After two and a half years of courtship they married on July 15, 1994. They traveled the world and continued to play Bridge until a fall broke her hip on January 1, 2009. Two months later a serious intestinal operation left her in bad health. Mary still attended church and kept a positive outlook for the rest of her life.
Survivors include her husband, James R. Michels; son, Fred L. Beaver; two grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 17 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday in the chapel with Jody Vickery officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
