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Mary Jerene Geary-GravesPassing: January 22, 2022

Service:

Chastain Funeral Home

Funeral Service

Wednesday, January 26th @ 2:00 p.m.

Visitation:

Chastain Funeral Home

Wednesday, January 26th @ 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Cemetery:

Mitchell Cemetery

Wednesday, January 26th

MITCHELL – Mary Jerene Geary-Graves, 96, passed away Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Mitchell Manor.

Born March 17, 1925, in Lawrence County, she was the daughter of Loyd R. and Anice C. (Bex) Miller, Sr.  She married Charles W. Geary in 1945 and they had two children, Brent (Carla) Geary of Bloomington, IN and Lake Wales, FL and Brenda (Dana) Dunbar of Mitchell.  She later married Phyl Graves in 1970 and he preceded her in death in 1988.

Mary was an active member of the Mitchell First Church of God where she taught Sunday school for many years and was also very active in the Women’s Guild.

Mary was a 1944 Mitchell High School graduate and a proud classmate of astronaut Virgil I. Grissom.  She was a former member of Order of Eastern Star No. 503, Gideon’s International and a volunteer for Hospice Care.  Mary also served with the Hoosier Uplands Latch Key Program where she enjoyed working with children, and was a Pink Lady volunteer at Dunn Memorial Hospital.

Mary is survived by siblings, Lloyd (Wilma) Miller, Jr. and Sue Miller Acton of Mitchell; grandchildren, Heather Dunbar Parker (Brian) of Franklin, TN, Derek Dunbar of Bedford, Brent (Renee) Geary of Fairfax, VA, and Josh (Jennifer) Geary of Bloomington, IN, great grandchildren, Jack and Dane Parker, Ryan and Finn Geary, and Josephine Geary.  Mary is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, twin sister, Martha Kendall, brother, Phillip Miller, sister, Edna Merry, and her close in-laws Perry Kendall, Ray Merry, Mary Ellen Miller, Bill Acton, and niece, Susan Merry Fortner.

Mary was a loving grandmother and enjoyed bingo, cooking, sewing, and reading her Bible daily.  Her favorite TV shows in her latter years were Jeopardy and 60 Minutes.  She loved traveling and had been fortunate to have traveled in South America, Europe, Mexico, and in many of the North American states.        

Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Pastor Dwight Dunbar officiating.  Burial will follow in Mitchell Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.  Masks are optional.

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16 Guest Comments

  1. Guest: PATSY C. PORTER | Avon, In 46123
    Date: January 26, 2022
    Brent, Carla, Brenda and Dana: Prayers for comfort and strength during this time of grief. Condolences to all Mary's family and friends. Patsy Williams Porter Avon, IN
  2. Guest: Norma Fielding | W. Lafayette
    Date: January 26, 2022
    Sorry to hear about Mary, my mother Shirley Isom Johnson was a high school classmate.
  3. Guest: Tom and Ruth Ann Buher | Star City, Indiana and LaBelle, Florida
    Date: January 26, 2022
    Sorry for your loss. She was a sweet lady.
  4. Guest: Jo Crane | Mitchell, Indiana
    Date: January 24, 2022
    I'm so sorry. Mary was a sweet lady. Enjoy doing thing for her.
  5. Guest: Lisa Buck Tincher | Orleans, IN
    Date: January 24, 2022
    So sorry for your loss. Prayers for your family.
  6. Guest: Jack Murphy | Mitchell, IN
    Date: January 24, 2022
    Brenda and family, So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. She was a nice lady. Condolences to you all.
  7. Guest: Kent King | Mitchell , in.
    Date: January 24, 2022
    So sorry for your loss, prayers for your families
  8. Guest: Larry Kidwell | Orleans In
    Date: January 24, 2022
    So sorry for your loss. Thoughts are with you and family Larry
  9. Guest: Donna Kendall | Mitchell
    Date: January 24, 2022
    I am so sorry. Mary was a sweetheart.
  10. Guest: cherie edwards | sellersburg
    Date: January 23, 2022
    She was always such a lady.....Loved seeing her and the rest at nan's house and at mom and dads......they sure had some good stories to tell and were always so funny.. Thoughts and prayers with all during this time......
  11. Guest: Letha Goller Beyers | Mitchell IN
    Date: January 23, 2022
    Mary was me and my brother and sisters Sunday school teacher when we first started attending the First Church of God. I have always remembered her since then. She was a special lady and will be missed. Prayers for comfort to her family.
  12. Guest: Mike and Rita Ramey | Bedford, IN
    Date: January 23, 2022
    So sorry for your loss. Prayers
  13. Guest: Kathy Fultz | Bedford
    Date: January 23, 2022
    Brenda, I am so sorry to hear about your Mother. You, Dana and your family will be in my prayers.
  14. Guest: Mary Lagle | Mitchell, IN
    Date: January 23, 2022
    Brenda and Family, so very sorry, prayers for comfort during this difficult time. Gerry and Pauline Lagle
  15. Guest: Nichole Galloway | French Lick, IN
    Date: January 22, 2022
    Brent and Brenda, thinking of you. Loved your mom like she was my own grandmother. She was so sweet and funny, even when she was grumpy ❤Missed seeing her so much these last few months. Hugs to you both.
  16. Guest: Amy Acton | Louisville, KY
    Date: January 22, 2022
    Lots of happy memories spent with Aunt Mamie! I cherish them all!