Mary was born on June 8, 1947, in Borden, Indiana. Mary was the oldest of five siblings and grew up in Pekin, IN. On May 7, 1971, Mary married the love of her life, James Pyle, in Scottsburg, IN and together they shared a devoted marriage of 52 years, building a life centered on faith, family, and service. As a proud Navy wife, Mary spent much of her life in Jacksonville, Florida, where she created a welcoming home and formed many lasting friendships.
Professionally, Mary dedicated 30 years of service to the Duval County Public School System. She retired from Kernan Middle School, where she served as the principal's secretary and was known for her kindness, professionalism, and commitment to students, staff, and families. In 2016, she and James retired to Summerfield, Florida, to enjoy their later years together.
Mary was an amazing mother and will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Jennifer Pyle and Kristin Pyle, as well as her god-son John Kelly and her many nieces and nephews, whose lives she touched with her generosity, warmth, and unwavering love.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Pyle; her mother, Audrey Tyler; step-father Gordon Tyler; her brothers, Calvin Tyler, Kenneth Tyler, and Robert Tyler; and her sister, Melissa Jane Baker.
Mary said her sanity came from gardening, her peace came from her husband Jim, and her love came from her family. That legacy will live on in the countless lives she enriched through her devotion to family and her compassionate spirit. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mary’s name to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (https://the mmrf.org/). A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM at Dignity Memorial Celebration of Life Center, 7134 Powell Road Wildwood, FL. A prayer service will begin at 12:30 PM.
