Mary Ellen George

Mary was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on October 29, 1922, the fourth child of Henry and Rosa Fields. She married Ben Brown in 1937, who died in 1980. She married Bob George in 1984, who passed away in 2005. She is survived by two children: Bonnie Martinez and Randall Brown. Bonnie’s children include Ben Green and Brandi Snyder. Randall’s children include Kristen Johnson and Janice Brown. She had seven great grandchildren: Amanda Sturgeon, Payten Romero, Spencer Green, Skyler Green, Sophia Horejs, Evalyn Harrell, and Naomi Johnson. She also had many close neighbors, friends, and extended family across Kentucky, Arizona, and several other states. She had a daily stream of visiting neighbors, church friends, and other close friends in her final years; as well as constant visits by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. To say she was much loved is an understatement: she was a beloved matriarch to an extended family whose grief in her passing, and loving memory of her life, will long endure.

She was a devout Christian since accepting Christ as her precious Savior at the age of 16. She was an exemplary witness through her example of living the principles of Christianity. She led a purpose-led, works-filled Christian life through her worship, evangelism, care for the sick and needy through her participation in local care centers, the churches she attended, her financial gifts, and volunteering at various organizations wherever she lived, especially in Sun City, Arizona, the community where she spent her final years. She was active in the church she loved, Horizons Community Church, where she showed her great love and a life focused on God.

Much of her working career was as an employee of First Interstate Bank, which became Wells Fargo. She spent over twenty years rising to the rank of Operations Officer at various branches around the Phoenix area, finally retiring in Sun City, AZ. Over the years, she was offered higher positions, but chose to work where she felt she was most effective and helpful to her company. Her coworkers spoke of her kind attitude toward helping those she worked with adjust to the workload and demanding job of banking. She would often stay late to help them reconcile or resolve the ongoing issues such a job demanded. She was a dedicated employee who won awards for improving the operations of the bank.

She gave all of herself for her family: she tirelessly helped them through cancer and chronic illnesses, ensuring they had the proper care and medicine. She selflessly gave her endless love and financial support to help them through difficult situations. She spent little on herself but gave all she could afford to help her family: taking in family when they needed shelter or support. She reflected the purest sense of a selfless, loving, Christian spirit.

She is with Christ now, and our family thanks God for releasing her from her final, tough days and on to heaven. We know she will have one of her much-enjoyed Sunday dinners she loved to prepare for us ready, when we joyously join her someday in heaven. God bless you, Mary Ellen, you are, were, and will always be so loved.