Mary E. (Beam) Gridley, 87, a lifetime Marshall County resident, living at River Park, passed away of natural causes in Grace Village, Winona Lake, at 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2012.
Mary was born in Plymouth, the daughter of Francis X. and Gladys H. (Nellans) Sullivan on February 4, 1925.
She graduated from Plymouth High School with the class of 1942.
In 1943, she married Dale A. Beam. Dale passed in 1970, and Dean G. Gridley and Mary were married in Plymouth on November 4, 1972. Dean died in 2009.
Mary was the Credit Auditor for Sears Roebuck & Co. for 22 years. She then was Credit Auditor for the Fulton and Marshall County Farm Bureau Co-op for ten years, retiring in 1989.
For several years, Mary enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels. She liked camping, flower gardening and reading. She also was a volunteer at the Marshall County Museum for a number of years. A member for over fifty years of the Plymouth First United Church of Christ, Mary was an active member of the Excelsior Sunday School Class and enjoys the company of other retired church members.
Mary is survived by three sons and their families. They are: Steven D. (Carol) Beam of Walkerton, and their children: Lori, Jennifer and Steven, Jr., son Michael B. (Janet) Beam of Plymouth, and their sons Michael II and Andrew, and son Daniel D. (Jeanne) Beam of Warsaw, and their daughters, Nicole and Andrea.
Three step-children and their families survive as well. They are: Bruce Gridley and Dr. Barry Gridley both of Centerville, OH, and Glenn Gridley of Plymouth.
In addition, nineteen great-grandchildren and one-great-great-grandchild, together with a sister-in-law, Marjorie Beam of Plymouth, survive her passing.
She was also preceded in death by a brother Francis Sullivan.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, for 1 to 3 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Mary will follow visitation at 3 p.m. in the funeral home. The Rev. Dr. Ronald Liechty will officiate.
Interment will be in New Oakhill Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Church of Christ, 321 N. Center St., Plymouth, IN 46563 or to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515.
Darla (Balmer) Finnegan says
Hello family of Mary and cousins of mine,
I was sorry to hear of Aunt Mary\’s passing. Larry\’s email last week about her being in a coma was a surprise to me because I didn\’t know anything was wrong. Being up north here, I\’m pretty removed from the family news.
I have fond memories of Aunt Mary……she was always my favorite Aunt on Mom\’s side.
My sympathy to all of you,
You are in my thoughts.
Darla
Peg Vancza says
To each of you in the family, your Mom/Grandmother/Great Grandmother will be solely missed, but to us, her friends, she will also be missed – her friendship meant so very much. The little things she did that probably wasn\’t noticed by many, but her service to the Mary-Martha Circle of sending cards each month to the sick, shut-ins, etc. will always be remembered. Boys, I remember you in Sunday school class as well behaved, fun and always there — we miss you all at First UCC.
Judy Bowman says
I want to thank you for sharing Mary with us at First UCC. God should have made more just like her.
She will truly be missed.
My prayers go out to the entire family.
Shirley Gidley says
To all of the family:
I am so sorry about Mary. What a great woman, but most of all, a great mom. I shall always have such fond memories of her. My sympathy and condolences to all
Barbara Pittman says
Mary was a very sweet lady. She was a neighbor to my mom in Riverpark and I helped Mary at my work.
I know she will be greatly missed.
May God give you comfort through this time.
Lindsey says
I am so sorry to hear of the death of Mary. The passing away of a loved one is always with much sorrow. May we have faith and confidence in the Bible\’s promise of a time when pain, sickness and death are a thing of the past (Revelation 21:3, 4). My condolences are with the family at this difficult time.
Darla (Balmer) Finnegan says
Hello family of Mary and cousins of mine,
I was sorry to hear of Aunt Mary\’s passing. Larry\’s email last week about her being in a coma was a surprise to me because I didn\’t know anything was wrong. Being up north here, I\’m pretty removed from the family news.
I have fond memories of Aunt Mary……she was always my favorite Aunt on Mom\’s side.
My sympathy to all of you,
You are in my thoughts.
Darla
Peg Vancza says
To each of you in the family, your Mom/Grandmother/Great Grandmother will be solely missed, but to us, her friends, she will also be missed – her friendship meant so very much. The little things she did that probably wasn\’t noticed by many, but her service to the Mary-Martha Circle of sending cards each month to the sick, shut-ins, etc. will always be remembered. Boys, I remember you in Sunday school class as well behaved, fun and always there — we miss you all at First UCC.
Judy Bowman says
I want to thank you for sharing Mary with us at First UCC. God should have made more just like her.
She will truly be missed.
My prayers go out to the entire family.
Shirley Gidley says
To all of the family:
I am so sorry about Mary. What a great woman, but most of all, a great mom. I shall always have such fond memories of her. My sympathy and condolences to all
Barbara Pittman says
Mary was a very sweet lady. She was a neighbor to my mom in Riverpark and I helped Mary at my work.
I know she will be greatly missed.
May God give you comfort through this time.
Lindsey says
I am so sorry to hear of the death of Mary. The passing away of a loved one is always with much sorrow. May we have faith and confidence in the Bible\’s promise of a time when pain, sickness and death are a thing of the past (Revelation 21:3, 4). My condolences are with the family at this difficult time.