Mary Mae Bryan

Mary Mae (Michael) Bryan, who was 94, spent her last few months in a group home where she died peacefully in her sleep after a long bout with dementia. She was born on October 8, 1925 in Pomona, California to Mary Louise (Hicks) and Clyde Richard Michael. Mary Mae married Ralph Terry Bryan during World War II on April 7, 1945 in Madison Wisconsin, and settled in Phoenix, Arizona after the war. Mary Mae earned her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and taught 3rd then 5th grade in the Paradise Valley School District while raising 3 boys and 1 girl. She and her family attended First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix where she taught Sunday school. Mary Mae and Ralph spent many wonderful summers at their cabins in Christopher Creek and traveled to many parts of the U.S. and Europe. One summer Mary Mae and Ralph taught English as a second language as part of a team in China. She loved the outdoors and was especially fond of putting her feet in the cool waters of creeks, lakes, and the oceans she encountered. She was an excellent cook and even found ways to make delicious meals of venison, trout, elk, rabbit, dove, quail, crawdads, and bobcat. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Ralph of 69 years and is survived by her four married children, Wayne (Marilyn), Warren (Rosie), Gary (Sally), and Terry (John), 11 Grandchildren, 23 Great Grandchildren, 2 nieces and 3 nephews. No service will be held at this time. In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to Savior Hospice, 4530 E Shea Blvd #160, Phoenix, AZ 85028.