Died peacefully Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Born July 24, 1923 in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Mary grew up in Murray Corner, New Brunswick where she played the organ in the local church. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and went to Normal School in Fredericton, New Brunswick where she received her certification as a teacher. She taught in the New Brunswick school system, she met her husband Jim (James) Akerley in 1945 when he returned from England with the Royal Canadian Air Force. They were married in 1946 and supported one another while he received his civil engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick. With their daughter Cara they immigrated to the United States in 1952 and became proud naturalized Americans. With the addition of their second daughter Suzanne, they moved extensively as Jim was a consulting engineer with an engineering firm in Boston. An avid golfer Mary won club championships from Antigonish, Nova Scotia to Sharon MA. They eventually settled in Sun Lakes. During Jim’s retirement they enjoyed golf together. She had 3 holes in one at various local courses. She was an accomplished organist and a member of the Gila Butte Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Following her husband Jim’s passing in 1999, Mary lived in her home in Sun Lakes with her daughter Cara as companion and care giver until 10 days before passing peacefully to join her beloved husband in heaven. Along with her husband, Mary was predeceased by her parents Lloyd and Vesta (Allen) Walton. She is survived by her daughters Cara Akerley of Sun Lakes, and Suzanne (Suzi) Akerley with her husband John Devine of Granby, CT, grand-daughters Leah with husband David Ward of Baltimore, MD and Chelsea Kahl-Devine of Hartford, CT. Services will be private at the request of the deceased. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mary’s name to American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or mail donations to PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123 or https://www.cancer.org/Involved/Donate/DonateOnlineNow/indexArrangements entrusted to www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com.
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