Mom grew up in Sand Rock, AL and spent her childhood working on the farm with her parents and grandparents, spending time at her Grandparents general store, time with her Georgia cousins (who she adores) and enjoying the days when things were simple. After graduating from Sand Rock High school she went on to Jacksonville State University. She graduated with a double major in Biology and English. There she met the love of her life Mike in September of 1965 and they married June 18, 1967 at Sand Rock Baptist Church on what Daddy says was probably the hottest Father’s Day on record. You see the church had no A/C and mom insisted on having candles lit the entire time. After her graduation they moved to Montgomery and bought their first home on Narrow Lane Road. Where they lived until Marc started climbing the fence and she was scared he was going to get "run over". He was a little stinker. They then moved to Spring Valley where they raised their family and made lifelong friends. We have so many memories of yard sales on Adler Drive, all the moms gardening and working in their DIY greenhouses. She was active in The Garden Club known as The Spring Valley Spriggers, The Junior Women’s Club and Bal Masque (Queen in 1995). In the early 90’s she opened The Perfect Mix catering in the Mulberry District until she semi-retired in 2004 so that she could keep her first grandchild, Shelby. We don’t know who cried more when Shelby started preschool. Mary instilled in her children the meaning of hard work and family traditions. We never missed a family reunion! We have memories to last a lifetime of summers and holidays in Sand Rock at Pop and Ruby’s house. Anyone that knew mom knew her love of gardening. Mom had a passion for working in her yard. It didn’t matter how hot it was, she would dig up flowers, bring them to your house and plant them with you or for you. Either way they were getting planted right then. Many of her children’s friends have flowers that came straight from Nana’s flower beds. These flowers have been grown and transplanted through many generations. Most people pass down china and jewelry. Mom passed down her flowers.
She was loyal and her love was unconditional. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy! They will always know how much their Nana loved them. She raised us to be strong, independent and to always be able to take care of ourselves. We will miss her terribly but we are at peace knowing that she is healthy and digging in a garden with her mother and (Queen in 1995). In the early 90’s she opened The Perfect Mix catering in the Mulberry District until she semi-retired in 2004 so that she could keep her first grandchild, Shelby. We don’t know who cried more when Shelby started preschool. Mary instilled in her children the meaning of hard work and family traditions. We never missed a family reunion! We have memories to last a lifetime of summers and holidays in Sand Rock at Pop and Ruby’s house. Anyone that knew mom knew her love of gardening. Mom had a passion for working in her yard. It didn’t matter how hot it was, she would dig up flowers, bring them to your house and plant them with you or for you. Either way they were getting planted right then. Many of her children’s friends have flowers that came straight from Nana’s flower beds. These flowers have been grown and transplanted through many generations. Most people pass down china and jewelry. Mom passed down her flowers. She was loyal and her love was unconditional. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy! They will always know how much their Nana loved them. She raised us to be strong, independent and to always be able to take care of ourselves. We will miss her terribly but we are at peace knowing that she is healthy and digging in a garden with her mother and grandmother in Heaven. She’ll be waiting on all of us and the first words we’ll hear from her will be “Hey my darling”.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents William Clee and Ruby Bell Stimpson and in-laws John A. and Irma Blann Haigler. She is survived by her husband of almost 53 years, Michael Jule Haigler, Sr., her children Michelle (Shane) Kelley and Michael Jule Haigler, Jr. (Lesley) Haigler; five grandchildren, Shelby Daniel Kelley, Saylor Grace Kelley, Dalton Steele, Ava Ashton Haigler and Michael James Haigler; Brother, Tommy Stimpson and his children Jim Tom, Scott and Kelly; Sister, Trina (Terry) Tallent and her children Wes and Katlin; Brother and Sister in Law, John and Linda Haigler. Not to mention a slew of Georgia cousins and longtime friends.
