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Mary Mavy

Mary Kelley Mavy passed away peacefully on March 16, 2025 at her daughter’s home in Pasco, Washington. She was 102 years old. Mary was born in Wells, Nevada on December 7, 1922 to Guy Darres Kelley and Elda Giles Kelley. Mary was the seventh of eight children in the Kelley family.

In the Spring of 1923 when Mary was about five months old, her father traded in their car for a team of horses and a wagon so the family could set off on their “move” to California. Their journey took them into Idaho and Oregon before arriving in California when Mary was five years old. Her “Daddy” (Guy) worked as an itinerant blacksmith and he covered the family’s traveling and living expenses by working for farms and ranches along the way. They eventually settled in Gridley, California where Mary spent the majority of her growing up years.

Mary met Carol A. Mavy at a local Saturday night dance and they were married on October 4, 1941. In June of 1957 they were sealed as a family in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were married for 63 years.

During her life, Mary lived through traveling and living in a covered wagon, the great depression, and the bombing of Pearl Harbor (her 19th birthday). She experienced having her husband serve in WWII and cared for her oldest child Stephen when he contracted polio. Mary helped Carol and the oldest two boys take care of approximately 140 pigs on the family ranch and she eventually ran her own drapery store. Mary most importantly raised a family of five children which gave her a beautiful posterity to love on.

Mary was an excellent seamstress and if she wasn’t sewing, she could be found in the kitchen making meals for her family and others or canning whatever fruit was in season. Mary was a kind and caring person and her home was always open.  She loved without judging and every grandchild thought she was their favorite. Mary’s favorite holiday was Christmas and her many, many Christmas villages became what her family jokingly referred to as her Christmas metropolis. Some of her great grandchildren referred to her as “Grandma Christmas.” Her family was what brought her joy. She was known to have a fun sense of humor which made her fun to be around. When anyone visited they would always be enlightened by one of her stories that came from her amazing memory.

Mary was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She happily served in many different callings throughout her life but her favorite way to serve was by attending the temple. She attended the temple weekly as much as possible wherever she was living or visiting. One of her favorite hymns was “Because I Have Been Given Much I Too Must Give” and she was a great example of what that hymn teaches.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Guy and Elda, her siblings Sid, Mae, Merritt, Tessie, Edwin (died as an infant), Chloe, and Flora, her husband Carol, her son Stephen, daughter Carolee, and great-granddaughter Kendra.

She is survived by her three remaining children; Chris (Carolyn), Jack, Deanna (Bary), 26 grandchildren, 88 great-grandchildren, and 13 great great-grandchildren. Thank you mom/grandma/GG for being you.