Mary A. Hardy, age 101, died peacefully on July 18, 2022. Mary is survived by stepdaughters, Katherine Kellogg, Nancy Schriner, and stepson, George A. Hardy, Jr. of MI, nieces and nephews, Marc Edmonston and Elisabeth Edmonston of PA, Pam Edmonston of CA, and Shirley Bishop of NC. She is predeceased by her father, Ralph W. Taylor, mother, Nettie Viola Benson, brother, Ralph W. Warren, Jr., sister, Elizabeth A. Edwards and husband, George A. Hardy.
Mary graduated with high distinction from Lawrence High School, 1938. She obtained a BS in Education from Framingham State Teacher’s College, 1942, and an MS in Home Management, Michigan State University, 1962. She taught high school home economics for 9 years, was a county extension home economist and served 26 years in higher education cooperative extension in ME, MI, MA and AZ.
Mary loved working with the Papago Native Americans and other tribes in Arizona, teaching them skills to improve their lives. She collected Indian jewelry and baskets, sharing their crafts with others. Mary was a talented seamstress, and used her interest in clothing construction to develop and market an independent clothing line in Texas, “Just Gail.” She volunteered tirelessly at food pantries, museums, libraries, churches, civic, and historic organizations. She enjoyed working on family genealogy, and traveled to her mother’s Swedish homeland twice. She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, and Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century. She adored playing card games with friends all her life until the 2020 COVID-19 global pandemic distancing.
In 2009, she relocated to PA to live in a cottage with her sister. There, they enjoyed their dogs, Chula and Daisy, and many social outings and parties at The Oaks.
Mary will be remembered as a woman ahead of her time, a devoted wife, sister, aunt and a cheerful Christian servant.
A memorial service will be held at the Oaks at the discretion of the family.