1934
Mary
2018
Mary Lula Story
February 4, 1934 — February 12, 2018
Mary Lula Story passed away from natural causes on February 12, 2018, in Inman, S. Carolina. She was 84.
Mary was born February 4, 1934, in Cody, Wyoming, the third of four daughters to Darracott Edwin Henderson and Goldie Lee Guest.
She received her upbringing and schooling in Cody, graduating from Cody High School in 1952. She attended the University of Wyoming in secretarial sciences. She could type 100 words per minute and was fluent in Gregg shorthand.
Mary was an outstanding seamstress. She was the grand champion at the Wyoming State Fair for her original designs and dresses. As a teenager Mary worked in her parents' malt shop on Main Street. Later she worked as a telephone operator, and as a secretary for the U.S. Forest Service.
On June 25, 1954, she married James A. Story of Cody, Wyoming. In their 64 years together and with Jim's career in mining and geology, the Storys lived in Wyoming, California, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, Colorado, Tennessee, Montana, Utah, and Colorado again, before moving to South Carolina.
Jim and Mary have three daughters: Jamie, Joni, and Judi. Joni and Judi are twins.
Mary made a weekly trip to the town library and read thousands of books over her lifetime. She became a regular viewer of the Jeopardy television show and enjoyed watching old western movies.
Mary was a woman of faith, reading the Bible and praying for her family every day.
She loved music from classical to country. She sang harmony to Jim's guitar and vocals on the old western songs. Her ability to remember lyrics to hundreds of songs was unmatched. She was equally at home with singing around a campfire or playing Chopin's Polonaise on the piano.
Mary was an accomplished pianist, proficient in music theory, and dedicated to the instrument daily. She taught many to play well, including her own grandchildren. Because of her, a grandson plays piano for choirs and conferences today.
She loved dancing and Friday night dinner dates ― anything to be with Jim. She was legendary for walking. Sometimes it would be several miles a day. She and Jim hiked enough trails and walked enough paths to draw a map all their own.
Mary was famous in the family for her fishing. She would walk up and down a creek, and stay longer than others, and sometimes fall in, yet still come back to camp with the most fish and the biggest one too. Several in the family are anglers today thanks to Mary and her fishing pole.
For her the outdoors was home away from home. Mary loved the mountains and animals. She could identify hundreds of species of birds, a hobby which all the family still enjoys. Picnics were a highlight, with hot dogs, chips, and beans. There were countless weekends of camping and watching wildlife and going for drives. To Mary, the Sweetwater River in Wyoming was one of the most beloved, magical places on Earth.
Mary was a gifted artist. She drew countless paper dolls and outfits for her girls. Today a granddaughter's skill at drawing and design can be traced back to Grandma Mary.
She was a skilled homemaker first and last. Her fried chicken and homemade biscuits rivaled the best cooks in the country. In later years there were three generations in the kitchen with her for big family meals, all enjoying the times together as much as the delicious results on the table.
Mary is remembered as a true and loyal wife, a loving mother, and a caring grandmother.
Her mother and father, and her sister Darralee Ellis, passed away previously. She is survived by her husband, Jim Story of Inman, S.C., and her daughters: Jamie (Bernard) Marschner of Fairbanks, Alaska; Joni Canterbury (David Ledford) of Inman, S.C., and Judi (Eric) Smith of Delta, Colo. Also surviving are two sisters, Doris (Heinz) Hilpmann of Nebraska and Doni (Ron) Welch of Alabama. Mary has four grandchildren: Quinton (Tifany) Smith of San Marcos, Calif.; Weston (Natalie) Smith of Renton, Wash.; Karlie (Brett) Draper of Little Torch Key, Fla.; and Summer (João) Teixeira of Cedar City, Utah. Mary has ten great-grandchildren: Rylee Smith, Colby Smith, and Kyler Smith, of Washington; Zanin Draper, Javien Draper, and Maverick Draper of Florida; Ryan Smith and Remington Smith of California; and Jonas Teixeira and Levi Teixeira of Utah.
A private memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's name may be made to the Audubon Society of South Carolina
(sc.audubon.org).
Mary was born February 4, 1934, in Cody, Wyoming, the third of four daughters to Darracott Edwin Henderson and Goldie Lee Guest.
She received her upbringing and schooling in Cody, graduating from Cody High School in 1952. She attended the University of Wyoming in secretarial sciences. She could type 100 words per minute and was fluent in Gregg shorthand.
Mary was an outstanding seamstress. She was the grand champion at the Wyoming State Fair for her original designs and dresses. As a teenager Mary worked in her parents' malt shop on Main Street. Later she worked as a telephone operator, and as a secretary for the U.S. Forest Service.
On June 25, 1954, she married James A. Story of Cody, Wyoming. In their 64 years together and with Jim's career in mining and geology, the Storys lived in Wyoming, California, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, Colorado, Tennessee, Montana, Utah, and Colorado again, before moving to South Carolina.
Jim and Mary have three daughters: Jamie, Joni, and Judi. Joni and Judi are twins.
Mary made a weekly trip to the town library and read thousands of books over her lifetime. She became a regular viewer of the Jeopardy television show and enjoyed watching old western movies.
Mary was a woman of faith, reading the Bible and praying for her family every day.
She loved music from classical to country. She sang harmony to Jim's guitar and vocals on the old western songs. Her ability to remember lyrics to hundreds of songs was unmatched. She was equally at home with singing around a campfire or playing Chopin's Polonaise on the piano.
Mary was an accomplished pianist, proficient in music theory, and dedicated to the instrument daily. She taught many to play well, including her own grandchildren. Because of her, a grandson plays piano for choirs and conferences today.
She loved dancing and Friday night dinner dates ― anything to be with Jim. She was legendary for walking. Sometimes it would be several miles a day. She and Jim hiked enough trails and walked enough paths to draw a map all their own.
Mary was famous in the family for her fishing. She would walk up and down a creek, and stay longer than others, and sometimes fall in, yet still come back to camp with the most fish and the biggest one too. Several in the family are anglers today thanks to Mary and her fishing pole.
For her the outdoors was home away from home. Mary loved the mountains and animals. She could identify hundreds of species of birds, a hobby which all the family still enjoys. Picnics were a highlight, with hot dogs, chips, and beans. There were countless weekends of camping and watching wildlife and going for drives. To Mary, the Sweetwater River in Wyoming was one of the most beloved, magical places on Earth.
Mary was a gifted artist. She drew countless paper dolls and outfits for her girls. Today a granddaughter's skill at drawing and design can be traced back to Grandma Mary.
She was a skilled homemaker first and last. Her fried chicken and homemade biscuits rivaled the best cooks in the country. In later years there were three generations in the kitchen with her for big family meals, all enjoying the times together as much as the delicious results on the table.
Mary is remembered as a true and loyal wife, a loving mother, and a caring grandmother.
Her mother and father, and her sister Darralee Ellis, passed away previously. She is survived by her husband, Jim Story of Inman, S.C., and her daughters: Jamie (Bernard) Marschner of Fairbanks, Alaska; Joni Canterbury (David Ledford) of Inman, S.C., and Judi (Eric) Smith of Delta, Colo. Also surviving are two sisters, Doris (Heinz) Hilpmann of Nebraska and Doni (Ron) Welch of Alabama. Mary has four grandchildren: Quinton (Tifany) Smith of San Marcos, Calif.; Weston (Natalie) Smith of Renton, Wash.; Karlie (Brett) Draper of Little Torch Key, Fla.; and Summer (João) Teixeira of Cedar City, Utah. Mary has ten great-grandchildren: Rylee Smith, Colby Smith, and Kyler Smith, of Washington; Zanin Draper, Javien Draper, and Maverick Draper of Florida; Ryan Smith and Remington Smith of California; and Jonas Teixeira and Levi Teixeira of Utah.
A private memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's name may be made to the Audubon Society of South Carolina
(sc.audubon.org).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Lula Story, please visit our flower store.
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