Mary Ratcliff Pfrimmer

Mary was born in Fairfax, Alabama, and later moved to Opelika, Alabama, where she graduated from Henry G. Cliff High School. She attended Auburn University, majoring in Journalism. While a student at Auburn, Mary met “Jack”, a young Navy WWII veteran studying engineering. They married and enjoyed 71 years together.

Marriage and career advancements led Mary and Jack to establish residence in cities across the U.S., East Coast to West Coast. With each move, Mary always adapted and created wonderful homes for her family. In every city, Mary become involved in community activities. In Mobile, Alabama, Mary was a member of the Jayceettes, Newcomer’s Club, learned to play golf, and volunteered with the National Junior Miss Program. With each new city, Mary and Jack always found a church home, and both spent time attending services, and supporting church charities and outreach programs. Mary was a long-time member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church and a member of the Grace Nelson Sunday School Class.

Mary raised her children in Mountain Brook, Alabama, where she spent considerable time taking them to participate in church activities, athletic practices and games, dancing lessons, theater practices, piano lessons, and making sure their home was always open to their groups of friends. Mary hosted many of her childrens' guests, parties, and get-togethers.

When all her children had entered college, there was another job transfer, and Mary and Jack moved to the San Fransisco area. While there, Mary was selected as the Executive Assistant to the Vice-President of Governmental Affairs at Crown Zellerbach. She served as an event planner. Mary said that she met so many interesting politicians and dignitaries, she never considered it work. During the years living in California, Mary and her husband traveled to many countries and throughout the U.S., finding new favorite places with each excursion and came back with new stories.

In Hawaii, Mary was invited to a dinner with a Hawaiian Princess, a night she particularly loved. Despite the distances from her family while in California, and during later years, Mary always found a way to be there for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She attended graduations, births, baptisms, recitals, theater and choir performances, athletic competitions, and school programs over the years.

After eleven years in San Francisco, Mary and her husband moved back to Birmingham, Alabama, where they wanted to spend their retirement. There, they lived in a home they designed and built on the golf course of the Greystone community. Once again, their home became the hub for family visits and gatherings. Nothing gave Mary more pleasure than to play hostess and spend time with those she so loved.

Mary was a wonderful Mother, but her grandchildren would argue she was the best Grandmother. She was devoted to God and family. She gave love tirelessly, teaching the value and love of family through the generations that followed her.

Mary is survived by her children, John Gray Pfrimmer, Jr. (Carolyn), Melisie Pfrimmer Stewart (Everett), and Stephanie Pfrimmer Ingram (Jerry); her grandchildren, Taylor Stewart Dobbs (Matt), John Gray Pfrimmer, III (Courtney), Lauren Stewart Valiollahi (Matt), Fran Pfrimmer Sutton (Drew), Graham Druary Ingram, Marjorie Alexandra Ingram, Mary Suzannah Ingram, and Jack Lamar Ingram; and eight great grandchildren, Anderson Dobbs, Parker Dobbs, John Sutton, Asher Valiollahi, Amelia Pfrimmer, Hadley Valiollahi, Teddy Sutton, and Evalyn Pfrimmer.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, John Gray Pfrimmer, Sr.; her parents, Stephen Edgar and Marguerite Druary Ratcliff; and her sister, Gloria Ratcliff Robbins; and her brother-in-law Wynard Taylor Robbins.

Graveside service will be held at the Garden Hill Cemetery at 2:00pm in Opelika, Al, under the care of JeffCoat Trans Funeral Home.