Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver was born on August 12th, 1945 In Bearden Arkansas the daughter of Elease and Thackery Barbary.  Mary lived in Rockford since she was 11 years old. She was employed at FDL Foods in Rochelle IL. where she later retired in 2007.

Mary was a member of Bethel Baptist Church for over 50 years. She served on the nurse’s board as a youth and was an active member of Bethel’s Seniors Living on the Promise and “The Zodiac Queens as she loved to laugh and participate in all events.  She was a very comical lady and her favorite phrase was “with your cute self” which was her way of saying just the opposite of that. She could be described as a loving spirit, humble, with a quit wit and the highest pitched laugh like no other.  She attended West High of Rockford. She loved her children, grandchildren and extended family and friends. She enjoyed shopping on a daily basis and was known for her sense of fashion and her creative style. Mary loved listening to the blues and line /steppers music even if she could not stay on beat. She was passionate about her family and friends and just loved living her best life to the end. She will be greatly missed by everyone.

There was nothing she would not do to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. She had many wonderful long time sister-friends and made sure to keep in touch with them as much as possible. She raised her children to be strong and to be decent people in this world and did not bite her tongue. She was loved by many and touched so many lives as only she could do.

She leaves many cherished loving memories to her daughters, Bridget S. Moore, Patrisha A. Oliver and sons, Rodney A. Moore, and Orson (Maria) Oliver; three sisters, Monika (Jeff) Batton of Bedford, Tx; Patricia Brown, and Joyce Russell; two brothers, Thackery L. Barbary Jr., of Columbia, South Carolina and L. Edward Barbary of Riverside Ca., her grandchildren, Rakisha Robinson, Alexander Smeltzer,  Shardae Parks, Alyssa (Jorge) Punte, Brandi (Tyler) Moore Williams,  Addison K. Oliver,  and Ayden Oliver; six great grand children and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Elease and Thackery L. Barbary Sr.

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