Mary Barnes Staples, 90, of The Villages, FL, passed September 30, 2018. Born in Seventy-Six MO she was the daughter of James Artie Barnes and Alice Barbara Barnes (Schneier).
Growing up during the great depression her family moved often as her father was fortunate to have a job with a construction company working along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. She became adept at making new friends and the art of gardening, cooking and sewing. Mary graduated from college with a BS in Secondary Education and taught for a short time before becoming a stewardess for American Airlines. There she met Bill, her husband of 56 years. They resided in Wilton, CT raising a family while Mary pursued more artistic endeavors learning theorem painting and stenciling, decorating and sewing clothes and all her (and her children’s) curtains. She was a member of the local garden club and Kiwi Club (organization of ex-stewardesses).
Mary and Bill moved to The Villages in 1992. She immediately went to work on her garden and several of her neighbors would comment that they knew her best from her backside as she was always bent over planting or weeding. She became president of the local chapter of the Kiwi Club organizing meetings and helping set up the national convention when they came to Florida. She also joined the local dance group and showed off her sewing skills by designing and making many of the costumes they used. But it was her ability to build friendships that truly set her apart. Of the hundreds of people she corresponded with, we would like to publicly acknowledge her friends here that helped her through her final months. Checking on her and visiting regularly as distance challenged our family. Thank you Beth Rieman, Joan Kulukovski, Rosie Wachs and everyone else who supported her.
Mary leaves behind four children: Frederick, Robert Staples (Sandy), William Staples (Linda) and Susanne Johnson (Neil) plus six grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church 1351 Paige Place Lady Lake FL. Saturday Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to: Parents and Friends of Lower Fairfield Center, 146 Silvermine Ave. Norwalk, CT 06850