Mary

Mary hired me at the start of the century to be her executive assistant, over see licensing, accounting, and IT for her 40-million dollar retail insurance shop. Our branded office was one of many across the country that were ultimately owned by a much larger insurance company. There was a nice core of us that bonded, or better said, I was accepted into that core of folks. It was a family. Almost a quarter of a century later, it still is.

I emailed Mary mid-November, and uncharacteristically, didn’t hear back from her. Worry set in.

Probably on my first day Mary told me, “Jeb is 10-years older that me. I’m going to retire soon because I want to spend some time with him.” This was a surprise to say the least. She did just that 2.5ish year later.

When Mary was having a bad day she’d ask, “Can you sing me a little Pasty Cline, Sweetheart? I need a lift.” I always obliged.

Mary moved south after Jeb passed. They’d been back and forth for a number of years. After his passing it seemed simplifying to one home was the best choice for her.

Mary and Jeb got to travel a lot in their swanky motor home for work. I’ll always remember when she called me for tech support when, on the road, she couldn’t get her laptop online. This was in the early 2000’s. Our cellular connection was dicey. She told Jeb to pull over. He Loudly objected! “No!! Do you KNOW how MUCH this rig costs to stop and start up again???” Mary, being a force of nature, had Jeb pull over 😏. I got her back online and Jeb got them back on the road.

Mary came up September of 2022, and we, her posse, gathered with her for lunch. Much reminiscing and hilarity with good friends.

Mary died last night. She’d been in the hospital for 3-weeks. I don’t know what took her. Her family was with her. I am thankful for this. I like to think that she and Jeb are together again. 💜

I am left with a regret… Mary invited us to come visit, over and over. We did once, when moving a child back from college. She always came to us. Then Covid swore me off of airplanes unless there was an emergency… I regret that I didn’t go visit. 😓

Mary was a deeply important influence in my life, both professionally and personally. She was a straight shooter, taught me to fire, verbally, from the hip and take no prisoners. She also guided me, primed me, that not everyone I worked with, or hired, was going to excel, no matter how much I wanted that for the individual. It took a while longer for me to understand that when someone I hired didn’t work out, it wasn’t necessarily my fault.

Mary was a dear friend. She taught me endless lessons. She loved me. I loved her. I will miss her deeply. Rest in peace my friend. 💜