Mary Morrison Callaway

Mary Louise Eldred Morrison Callaway was born in Madison, Wisconsin on June 29, 1931. Mary was born during the Great Depression, and that time helped shape her life. She said “waste not want not”, and to this day we hold on to that saying. Mary was creative and knew how to save and re-use many things. Her father fondly called her the smartest ape in the pack.

Young Mary’s father got his first job working for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and her parents moved the small family to Falls Church, Virginia. Mary was the eldest child; she had a younger sister, Lilian Byers Eldred Morrison Philips whom died in 2017, and a youngest brother Michael Paul Eldred Morrison currently residing in Fairview Pennsylvania.

Mary’s mother found work on Capitol Hill for a congressman from California. Mary, the eldest, helped look after her siblings from an early age. Mary loved the stories her mother told them of the goings on at the “Hill”. Mary liked politics naturally growing up around Washington D.C. In high school she went to Girl’s state and learned the art of debate. Mary attended William and Mary College where she met her life’s companion, Joseph Callaway, III, on the William and Mary debate team. Mary and Joe’s love of debate is passed down to her three children, Joseph Arthur Callaway of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Paul Elliot Callaway of Ventura, California, and Jessie Sybil Callaway of Dallas, Texas.

Mary delayed her college education to start a family and help her husband get his Ph.D. Mary and her young family moved to several university towns over the years, including Princeton, New Jersey, Miami, Florida, and Riverside, California before settling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While in Riverside, Mary, forever loving politics, was involved in the school board, and she took her kids to marches protesting the Vietnam war. Mary had a lovely singing voice and she sang in the Riverside Community Opera.

Later, when Mary finished raising her three children, she focused on own her education. She obtained a BS from LSU in 1972. And with all the training three children provide, Mary returned to school to get a Masters in Social Work in 1983, and BSW / ASW in 1986. Mary worked for the State of Louisiana in Port Allen, Louisiana, helping people obtain food stamps, counselling for substance abuse, and helping disadvantaged women with children. In 1989 she ended her career and devoted her time to Joe and their love of adventure and travel. Mary and Joe enjoyed the ocean and beach, especially Key West, and owned a house and condo there for many years. After Joe’s death in 1994, Mary continued in Baton Rouge, and in 2005 she moved to St. James Place. She loved Baton Rouge and the people. She said it was like a bouquet, always something beautiful to see.

In addition to her three children, Mary is survived by nine grandchildren, Joseph Michael Caruso, Arron Dale Caruso, Monica Anne Tuttle, Melissa Rayne Stanton, Lilian Carson Sawyer, Samuel Paul Eldred Callaway, David Michael D’Antoni, Edward Joseph Elias, and Renee Louise Swoger. Mary is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Mary put the needs of others ahead of herself. She was the strong backbone of the family. Once, when her children were young, she alone drove them across the entire USA from the east coast to the west coast. She was a loving grandmother. She enjoyed camping and hiking outdoors, boating, artwork, music, books and movies.

Services for Mary will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Homes & Crematory, 825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802 with the Viewing on Friday April 9th from 5 pm to 9 pm, and the Memorial Service on Saturday April 10th at 11 am.

Mary requested her ashes be interred with those of her husband Joseph in Meredosia, Illinois, the ancestral home of Mary’s maternal family and their burial plot.

Mary is missed by her family, and all those who were touched by her kind and generous spirit. May she always be remembered.