Mary S. Koski

A Celebration of Life service will be held Graveside 11:00am Saturday, September 30 and will be officiated by Pastor Denis Tanner. Friends and family who would like to say a few words are welcome to do so. Mary’s favorite color was red and she enjoyed cheering on her beloved Crimson Tide. As we gather to celebrate Mary, please dress casually, in your favorite color, game day attire or anything patriotic, along with comfortable shoes for walking in the grass at Forest Hill Cemetery, 431 60th Street North, Birmingham 35212.

For 97 years, Mary was a blessing and an inspiration to all who knew her. She was vibrant, outgoing, joyful and exhibited an ability to overcome difficulties with acceptance and resilience. Mary was a lifelong Alabama native, born in Tuscaloosa and moved to Birmingham at age 6. She attended Jackson Elementary and West End High.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Malya Simpson Brown May, John A. Brown, three sisters Margaret, Trixie, Dotty and a brother, Michael. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Carlton Sisk Sr. (Bob) and by their son Robert C. Sisk Jr.

Mary met Bob Sisk in 1942 on her 16th birthday while working at Silvers Five and Dime. Bob told a friend that he had met the girl he was going to marry even though they had only 3 dates before Bob left to serve in World War II.

Mary quit school in 1943, just before age 17, to attend training at Birmingham Airplane School and she became “Mary the Riveter” from March 1943 – August 1945, working on the B-24 Liberator and B-29 Bomber planes for the WWII effort. Both Mary and her mother Malya worked at a Bechtel-McCone-Parsons plant in which military aircraft underwent post-production changes in order to modify or install equipment (such as guns) needed for combat. While Mary worked in the plant, her new boyfriend, Bob Sisk, served with the US Army infantry Oct 1, 1942 – Aug 20, 1945 in the Pacific. Mary & Bob exchanged letters for nearly 3 years while Bob was overseas. Bob proposed marriage in one of his many love letters to Mary and they married just 10 days after he returned home from the war, September 1, 1945. Mary was 19 and Bob was 27. Together they had two children, Barbara and Bob Jr. They attended South Avondale Baptist Church for 33 years and taught Sunday School. They were married 56 ½ years until Bob’s passing in 2002. Later, Mary became a faithful member of Shades Crest Baptist for 25+ years.

Mary is survived by: daughter, Barbara Carolyn Sisk; niece, Glynn Shackleford Gamble; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors: Gene & Jeanette Sullivan; David Paisley & Larry Walker; Gamble Everett; Ross, Katie, Lily, Luke & Isaac Gamble; Shannon, Tim, Macey & Harper Shumway; Sage, Sonny, Sheldon, Piper & Paxton Weishaupt; Mike Simpson; Summer & Vivi Rose Simpson; Florence & Gary Salmer; Daniel White; Michael, Paula & Sophie White; Paul, Tammy, Whitley & Kylie White; Billy Glover; Gail Glover Hanley; Brian Gamble; Lynne Tennant; Dixie Lyles; Joe Hicks; Linda Tucker, Judy & Jack Stephens, Joyce Jones and Pat Reese.

After being widowed for 7 years, Mary met and married Anthony Joseph Koski (Tony), also widowed. Mary gained an exceptionally kind and humorous second husband in Tony, as well as 3 step-children whom she adored, David Koski (Nicki), Laura Stanfield (Wayne), Joe Koski (Suzy). Since Mary never had any grandchildren of her own, she was especially thrilled to gain 7 step-grandchildren and 14 bonus great-grands: Melissa Howell (Todd, Hannah, Haley & Britton); Patricia Koski; David Koski Jr. (Stephanie & AJ); Scott Stanfield (Genta); Mark Stanfield (Kathleen, Bailey & Katie); Tim Stanfield (Erica, Wyatt, Lakyn, Addison, Hudson & Hunter); Matt Koski (Allison, Jackson, Nora & Brody). Mary and Tony frequented the Homewood Senior Center where they enjoyed weekly dances and many other events, trips and cruises with friends. They had 11 wonderful years together until Tony passed away in 2020.

Mary lived the last 19 months of her life at Morningside of Vestavia Hills where she made new friends and participated in many enriching activities. Special thanks to the Morningside staff: Tara, Mark, Susan, Krishna, Kayla and so many others. The family is especially grateful to Stephanie Keeth and her team of caregivers.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to Shades Crest Baptist Church, 452 Park Ave, Hoover, AL 35226 or your favorite charity

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Koski family.