Mary E Novy

Mary Elizabeth Novy passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022 at age 92 in Lacey, WA. Mary had a love of life and enjoyed the company of family and friends and could be described as an extrovert with her ability to readily strike up conversations. She found people and their individual life stories fascinating which people sensed, allowing her to easily converse even with complete strangers.

Mary loved celebrating holidays and birthdays, and especially Christmas with many joyful photos of her through the years with family in her Christmas shirts and sweaters. She also loved the occasional slot machine, baking (especially Christmas cookies), and spending time with family and friends. She was proud of her involvement in multiple organizations over the years, which included Eastern Star, advisor for the Rainbow Girls, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), ESA-Chapter Alpha Chi Sorority, Lioness (Lions) Club, and the Red Hat Society.

Mary was also proud of her career as a teacher. She taught in Iowa, Oregon, and Washington, and was well-known as a Kindergarten teacher at Concrete Elementary School where she loved teaching young children for many decades. Many of her students kept in touch with her, and have fond memories from their Kindergarten experience.

Mary was born to Noah and May Holbrook in 1930 in Boone, Iowa. She met her husband Bob Novy through the matchmaking skill of her sister, Donna, who felt they would be a good match. She was right, and Mary and Bob enjoyed a long and loving marriage.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, and her sister Donna (Dee). She is survived by her three sons Steve, Bob, and Rich, her daughters-in-law Margaret and Elissa, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved very much.

Mary’s family will host a remembrance and celebration of her life at 2:00 pm on January 12th, 2023 at Mills & Mills Funeral Home, Tumwater, WA. All friends and family able to attend are most welcome. A graveside service for immediate family only will follow on January 13th in Portland, OR. Mary loved children, and in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which she supported throughout her lifetime.

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