Mary Lang

On May 31, 2023, surrounded by her loving family, Mary Alice Lang, at age 83, took her place among the heavenly angels. Although Mary and her husband Eugene were residing in the home of her daughter in Gilbert, Arizona at the time of her passing, she called Tucson, AZ her home for 56 years.

Mary Alice Sexton was born in Carr Creek, Knott County, Kentucky to Drutha and Delmar Sexton on May 8, 1940. She attended high school in Hindman where, upon graduation, she received a scholarship to attend the local college which she declined in order to help take care of her younger brothers and sisters.

On her 18th birthday Mary moved to Columbus, Ohio where she met and married her husband and gave birth to two daughters Brenda and Teresa. After Mary’s husband was transferred to Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ, Mary gave birth to their third child Timothy.

During this time, it was usual for women to stay home with the children while their husbands worked but even by the standards of the era, Mary was an exceptional wife and mother. She cared deeply for her family and never hesitated to lead or participate in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, school classrooms, and groups, even going as far to play catcher to her granddaughter’s 52mph softball pitching practice when she was in her 60s. She did this not out of obligation, but because of who she was. When Eugene started his own business in the 90s, Mary worked with him doing his bookkeeping and kept their home office running smoothly until retirement.

Mary always went out of her way to assist others in need and to make everyone she met feel comfortable and welcome. Everyone she encountered would tell you what a warm, loving and kind person Mary was, who always made sure anyone who came to her table left full and happy. Her specialty was downhome comfort food, biscuits and gravy, pot roast, fried chicken and pies and always from scratch. She was usually the last person to sit down to eat after having made sure everyone else was attended to.

Mary was an avid reader, enjoyed doing crossword and number puzzles, playing cards and collecting Ted DeGrazia art. You could often catch Mary humming or singing along with her favorite country song. She also enjoyed shopping at the base and hunting for elusive treasures at Goodwill, but her greatest joy was always spending time with her loved ones. She always said people mattered more than things.

Mary is survived by her spouse, Eugene C. Lang, her children Brenda Hanchett (Doug), Teresa Coleman, and Tim Lang (Hillary) as well as her 7 grandchildren, Jim Hanchett (Sarah), Jessica Bartolomeo (Brian), Rachel Confair, Danielle Lang (Ramon), Oscar Lang, Phoebe Lang and Riley Hanchett and great grandchildren Chloe, Christian, Evan, Cole, Ayla, Isaac and Ivan. Mary is also survived by her brother Ron Sexton (Karen).

Mary is predeceased by her father, Delmar Sexton and mother Drutha Sexton, as well as 8 brothers and sisters, Joyce, Liza, Lester, Delmar Jr., Donna, Sue, Pauline, and Darwin.  Services will be held on Friday, June 16th at 10:30am at the Marana Mortuary & Cemetery at 12146 W. Barnett Road, Marana AZ 85653, followed by graveside burial at 12:00pm at the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana at 15950 N Luckett Rd, Marana, AZ 85653.  Reception will be held following services at the Marana Mortuary & Cemetery. Services will be officiated by Pastor Jack Schull of Elements City Church.