Mary Elizabeth Hall Stuart, led colorful life

Mary Elizabeth Hall Stuart, 80, passed away peacefully in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2017, surrounded by her family. Mary grew up in the community of Atlanta just outside Bridgeville. Mary went on to live in Oak Orchard, Houston, Texas and Portland.

Mary Stuart lived exactly how she wanted and died exactly the way she wanted - quickly, and without pain, so to that end celebration is in order and not sadness. These were Mary's wishes.

Mary Stuart was a vibrant, energy-infused, and fearless woman. Above all, she loved family, friends and was loved by so many. Her greatest virtue was loyalty. She radiated a positive, fun and warm spirit. Mary was compassionate, generous, loving, and most of all lived a life of pure service, often subordinating her own interests for others. She gave and thought of other until her end.

Mary was successful in every area of her life; in marriage, as a daughter, as mother, and as a businesswoman. She was private and quiet about much, including her faith. She was a believer and lived by example, practicing unconditional love, forgiveness, and service to family, friends and fellow mankind.

Mary loved to entertain and throw a party. As a skilled entertainer and dexterous cook, Mary could simultaneously transition an impromptu cocktail party of 20 into a sumptuous sit-down dinner in a matter of a couple of hours.

Mary was born in Cambridge, Md., Dec. 8, 1936, the younger of two children of the late Ernest R. Hall and Anna P. Hall. She was raised in her grandfather's country store, her bassinet on the counter, and later grew up working in the store with her father, mother and older brother. Tragically, Mary lost her older brother Billy to a car accident when she was 14.

She attended Bridgeville Elementary and Bridgeville High School where she made lifelong friends. She also attended an elocution and finishing school as a gift from a beloved Aunt Pauline Tresnak Satterfield.

She was precocious and fearless as a child. While growing up at the age of 13, she was refused entrance to a summer dance at the beach, and returned only to throw an overripe watermelon onto the dance floor.

Raised in the country store, she tended the cash register, pumped gas and cut meat and whatever else was needed. She learned people skills and communication very early on which served her well as she continued honing these skills lifelong. As Mary matured, she transformed into a striking natural beauty, not as much the girl next door, but an exotic look being dark complected, and was later compared to as an Elizabeth Taylor look alike. Her beauty earned her the title of Miss Bridgeville Greenwood.
Mary met Bob Stuart, who was a Delaware state policeman at the time, and the two immediately fell in love. Two weeks later the two married, became best friends and never parted company until Bob's death in 2009 or 54 years later. As they always declared, "We became a team."

Mary and Bob's exemplary union was blessed with four children; Larry, Betsy, Susan and Bill.

Mary quickly became the proverbial woman behind the man. She loved, supported and cared for Bob in every manner. They laughed together, loved, socialized and entertained so many and so often. At any given gathering or when just a few were present one could often catch them in a room dancing cheek to cheek absent of any music. Mary's beauty was at the time matched only by her quick wit, boldness with the ability to speak to anyone on their level. In each case, she treated everyone the same whether a friend, fellow officer's wife, politician or dignitary. In every case, she did so with zero trepidation without stammering or faltering.

Mary helped Bob grow to great heights throughout his career with the state police, and other state-held executive jobs, and they attended many statewide police and political functions all over the United States.

However, in one instance early on Mary, perhaps a little, overzealous to help, soaked, washed and hand polished Bob's ammunition before a scheduled uniform inspection. Of course, the ammo was ruined and had to be paid for personally and replaced, which was nothing compared to the ribbing Bob received for the remainder of his career by his fellow officers.

Mary and Bob eventually bought the country store from her parents and Mary operated it for years, eventually relinquishing it to raise her children. There were tough economic times off and on in the rural area of Atlanta during her ownership of the store, and like her mother, Mary would often gift food and meats to people in need gratis saying she could not sell them due to expiration dates, which was intended to diminish the receiver’s reluctance of accepting charity. She had a huge heart, often giving many wandering workers chores for money and food, often when no chores really needed to be done.

Never one to miss an event; Mary once ailing and down with a bad back, insisted on making a very celebrated annual party thrown in upstate Delaware by a well-known businessman and crop-duster. Bob Stuart, a friend, and his friend's wife loaded Mary up on a stretcher, and she went to the annual party and circulated the party on a stretcher.

Mary was loyal to her friends and family no matter what. She was a lifelong Republican, and became a Republican statewide committeewoman. She loved politics and standing up for what she believed and spent many hours in service to the party. In 1972 a very good social friend of Mary's and classmate of Bob's had announced his candidacy for state Senate as a Democratic candidate. Mary refused to support her party's candidate. This scenario went on to fester, and Mary resigned her committeewoman position. She then immediately held the Democratic Senatorial candidate’s first fundraising dinner in her home.

Mary's greatest love after Bob by far was her family. She loved her family and cared for them tirelessly. At 24 years of age, Mary came home from the hospital with her youngest newborn and on that very day her mother-in-law May Stuart moved in as well, needing lodging and care. At the time her mother-in-law was blind and suffering with other severe conditions as a complication of diabetes. Mary cared for May Stuart until the time of her death.

For the vast majority of her adult life, Mary cared for both her parents as they grew older in addition to several great aunts, uncles and cousins. She oversaw all of their affairs, healthcare needs and anything else that needed doing.

When her children grew older, and her youngest went to school, Mary got a job delivering newspapers for The Seaford Leader in Seaford. Over the course of 20 years, Mary worked her way up through the ranks to become composition editor of two newspapers, The Seaford Leader and The Laurel Register.

Mary's Uncle John T. Satterfield asked her to assist him with the running of a fledgling water utility in Oak Orchard. Mary left The Seaford Leader to assist John to build the company and Mary focused on the role of operations manager where she eventually became president. When her uncle died, the company had many thousands of customers, however the corporate taxes were so onerous that the company was on the brink of a fire sale which would lead to financial ruin and a catastrophic outcome. All local banks had said no to any new loans as they were neither sophisticated enough or were not suited to finance such a recapitalization. Unfazed and unafraid, Mary searched diligently throughout the United States for a specialty lender. She found a specialized utility lender in Atlanta, Ga., just in time, and the bank recapitalized the company, allowing Mary to operate, and supply the capital to grow. Four years later Mary was able to sell the utility at a premium to a publicly traded company.

The shareholders prospered greatly, and Mary allocated some of her own monies from her own distribution to elderly relatives so they might have a secured retirement.

After the sale of the water company Mary and Bob moved to Houston, and later to Portland. They split their time between Houston and Portland.

In retirement, Mary and Bob spent their time traveling the world but most importantly making the rounds visiting their children, grandchildren and new great-grandchildren around the United States.

After Bob's death in 2009, Mary shortly moved to Spring Ridge at Charbonneau, Ore., a senior living community, and of course not long after was elected to the board of advisors. She loved the community and made many new friends, and they all enjoyed laughing and socializing in grand fashion. She enjoyed many great friends there.

Among those family members who survive Mary are: son Larry and his wife Sheri Stuart of Denver, Colo., daughter Betsy and her husband Ron Chaney of Washington, D.C., daughter Susan and her husband Bob Masin of Portland, and son Bill and his wife Michelle of Houston.

Mary had and was loved by 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Bob; Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Ernest, and brother Billy Hall.

The family would like to sincerely thank Susie Stuart Masin and her family for tirelessly taking care of Mary in her final years. Susie did so unceasingly and diligently, and the entire family is grateful. It seems in Susie's case the apple did not fall far from the tree.

Memorial services on the West and East Coast will be announced.