Our Mom, Mary, originally Mary Emma Story, was born in the small farming community of Valley, Washington.  After her father died in a tragic farming accident, she and her mother moved to Chewelah, Washington, where her mother supported them as a florist.  Mary graduated from Valley High School and went on to complete her bachelors degree at Eastern Washington University; after teaching in Seattle, she moved to New York City to study at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she earned her masters degree in education of the deaf.  She joined the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant, and it was during this time that she met our father, Joe, in San Antonio, Texas.  Fortunately for us, they fell in love despite our father's none-to-smooth first line: "Can I bum a cigarette off of you?   Don't tell me you don't have any, because I saw you put them in your purse."

Subsequently, our family lived in New York and, briefly, in Virginia, settling ultimately in Massachusetts, where Mary was a special needs teacher for many years.  She was extremely dedicated to her special students, and only wished to retire because the paperwork had become onerous.  She was also very involved with United Cerebral Palsy, serving the special needs community outside of work.

Mary was a devoted wife and mother — and an excellent cook!  She expected her children — sons included — to be able to cook, clean, and handle their own domestic affairs.  She demanded that all people, but women in particular, be shown respect, and believed that women should be able to pursue their personal  and professional dreams equally with men.  Mary was a life-long Methodist, and, especially after retiring, was very involved in service and fellowship at her church.

Mary is survived by her children, Mary Frances, Joseph and his wife Pat, and Christopher and his wife Jennifer, as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.   She is preceded in death by our father, Joseph, and her three siblings, Hazel, Grace, and Gordon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Cerebral Palsy:

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/UnitedCerebralPalsy

Friends may visit on Friday December 9, 2016 from 4-7:00pm at the Barranco & Sons, P.A Severna Park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie Hwy Severna Park, MD 21146. Services will be held on Saturday December 10, 2016 at 12:00pm in the Funeral Home Chapel.