Mary Ryan

Temple Services for Retired Army Major, Mary E. Ryan, 92, are scheduled for 10:30 am, Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at HarperTalasek Funeral Home with Rev. Lois Hootz officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Prairie Hill Cemetery in Limestone County.

Mary was born July 12, 1920 to the late Cicero Andrew and Carrie Evelyn Martin Graves at Elk, Texas. She graduated from Axtell High School in 1937 and two years later moved to Fort Worth where she graduated Business College. She worked for JustinBarton Belt Company, until she joined civil service in1942. She went to radio repair school in San Antonio and returned to Fort Worth to work at the Fort Worth Air Field which later became Carswell Air Base.

She passed away Saturday night in a Waco Hospital.

On February 13, 1943, Mary joined the WAAC Womens Auxiliary Army Corps. The name was changed to WAC Womens Army Corps in August 1943. Basic training was at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa. Her first assignment was at Ft. Riley, Kansas where she worked as a mechanic on radios mounted on horses, jeeps, armored cars and tanks. In late 1945, she was promoted top first sergeant and served in that capacity at Ft. Riley Camp Pickett, VA Tokyo, Japan and Ft. Monmouth, NJ. She received her discharge June 30, 1948.

Marry enrolled at the University of Maryland in September 1949 and was recalled to active duty the following August. She served at Ft. Meade, Maryland for two years. And upon her release from active duty returned to the University of Maryland. She received a B.A. degree from there in June 1955. She enrolled at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in September and graduated in June 1957 with a Master of Social Work degree. Mary worked the next 21 years as a Psychiatric Social Worker for the Mental Health Department of California, and a private agency Regional Center System for the Mentally and Physically Disabled.

On April 30, 1971, Mary and Dr. Joseph F. Ryan, Jr. were married. Mary and Dr. Ryan moved in April 1978 for California to Texas where he died September 1985.

Mary became a volunteer Yellow Bird at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in July 1979 and volunteered there until her death. May also volunteered for the V.A. Hospital for several years and began working as a Hospice volunteer in July 1990.

Mary received a Certificate of Appreciation for her volunteer service from Governor Clements, signed 8th of May 1981. She was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Social Workers in 1991. in December of 1998, Mary was honored as a Community Volunteer of the Year by the Temple City Federation of Womens Club. in 2003, the Girls Scouts of America honored her with a Woman of Distinction Award. in 2006, KCEN television station gave her Those Who Care Award for dedicated service and commitment to eh community.

She was a member of the WAC Veteran Association, Chapter 94, Killeen, Texas. She was a life member of the ROA Reserve Officers Association, and a life member of the MOAA Military Officers Association of the Army. Mary was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class at the First Methodist Church of Temple and a member of the Unity Church of Temple. Mary was listed in Whos Who of American Women, fifth edition, 19681969 Whos Who in the West, 11th Edition, 1969 1970 Directory of International Biography, 1970 Nation Social Directory, 1971 and Whos Who of American Women, 7th Edition, 19721973.

Mary is survived by her sister, Kathryn Weepe five stepchildren Joseph J. Ryan, Julie Leed Ford, Thomas Ryan, Maureen Harris, and Christopher Ryan numerous nieces and nephews and many beloved friends.

Donations in Marys memory may be sent to Mary Ryan Scholarship Found for social workers at Scott White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, Texas 76508.

The family will receive friends from 68 pm Tuesday at HarperTalasek Funeral Home in Temple.

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