Mary Rachel Akers

Mary Rachel Calvert Akers, born June 13, 1923, was the third of five children born to Harold T Calvert and Eva M Rude Calvert. She grew up in the El Cerrito, California area and later in Fresno California.

Despite hardships she remembered a happy childhood. She was very active in athletics, church group and neighborhood shenanigans. She helped care for her siblings when her mother became unable. She worked as a switchboard operator during the second world war and was known to listen in, along with her coworkers, to calls from famous or important people. In the neighborhood, her family home was known as the “Little USO” because they were often entertaining or housing soldiers on leave. She tap-danced at the local USO and decades later was happy to demonstrate her skills to her children and grandchildren. In the last years of her life hearing the right music would make her feet dance even though her body could not.

Mary married Joe Akers in 1951 and began her life as a wife and mother. They started their life together in the small mill town of Sterling City, California, later living in Lyman Springs, followed by Chico, and finally settling in Red Bluff California in 1959.

Her home was her happy place and she was content in her role as wife and mother to her two children. She loved doing needle work and was prolific at cross stitch and embroidery, spending many, many hours making things for her family and friends. She loved music and singing. She enjoyed gardening and playing bridge and she had a close lifelong group of bridge friends. The kitchen was her domain and she was rightfully proud of her outstanding pies. She also enjoyed fishing with Joe and traveling with him to places near and far.

Mary passed away on April 21, 2024 at the age of one hundred. Her husband, Joe, had died in 2019. She is survived by one sister, Patricia Calvert Nieland Collins of Chico, California, Mary’s children Richard Akers of Eugene, Oregon, & Marlu Akers Reeves Stroud (Dale) of Red Bluff, California. Also, her grandchildren; Laura Reeves of Red Bluff, Daniel Reeves (Valerie) of San Diego, Bryan Akers of Portland Oregon, David Akers of Eugene, Oregon, Austin Stroud of Red Bluff and Theo Stroud of Chico. And she was delighted to live long enough to meet her great grandchildren; Avery, Tinley, and Joe.

It was requested by Mary and Joe that there be no funeral or memorial services. Their remains will be interred at the Akers family plot in the Smith Mountain Cemetery, Dinuba, California.