Mary Dean Stearns

Mary Dean, 85 years young, passed into glory on October 20, 2018. Mary Dean was raised in Elmore, Alabama and a graduate of Holtville High School. She was also a graduate of Massey-Draughon Business School, and worked several years at Sabel Steel in the late 60’s. Later in life, she received her real estate license and worked with Montgomery Metro Real Estate in Montgomery, AL.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, USAF Major James A. Rainwater, Jr., and her brothers Bill, Earl, Burt, Raymond, and Perry Lanier.

She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Jean Adair. She is also survived by her three children: Deborah Jean Rainwater Gunden and husband, Steve, of Naples, Florida; James A. Rainwater, III, and wife Diane, of Elmore, Alabama; and Tina Elizabeth Rainwater Brower and husband, John, of Fort Worth, Texas.

Dean was a loving grandmomma to eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Her grandchildren: Jenny Beth Gunden Kapur, and husband, Neal, of Raleigh, North Carolina. Micah Gunden of Orlando, Florida; Amanda Rainwater Cloman and husband, Courtney, of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Jessica Rainwater Owens and husband, Matt, of Titus, Alabama; Audrey Rainwater Norred and husband, Andy, of Deatsville, Alabama; James Rainwater of Memphis, Tennessee; Anna Belle Rainwater of Elmore, Alabama; Johnny Brower and wife, Holly, of Hutto, Texas; David Brower and wife, Lindsey, of Garner, Texas; Daniel Brower of Euless, Texas. Joseph Brower of Waco, Texas.

Her great-grandchildren: Luke, Caleb, Nathan, Holly, Rhett, Owen, Charlie, Ellison, Laura Leigh, AJ, Sawyer, Ella, and Joshua.

Even though she had a career in business and real estate, Dean would consider her family to be her greatest treasure and accomplishment, but she also had many other interests, hobbies, skills and accomplishments apart from her family and career that are worth noting and admiring. She was a master gardener, floral arranger, prolific and award-winning oil painter, synchronized swimmer, champion bowler, community theater actress, soprano vocalist, active church member who loved singing in the choir, valedictorian of her high school class, excellent seamstress, loved to dance, 2-time breast cancer-survivor, avid card player, a life long water-skier who attempted to teach all her children and grandchildren the same skill, enjoyed entertaining and decorating and making delicious desserts.

She will forever be remembered as an overcomer, a hard worker with a voracious appetite for learning new things, lover of friends and family whose infectious smile lit up a room and a beautiful voice that never left her.

Her memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Millbrook, AL, on June 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.