Mary Jean Nicely, went home to be with the Lord on June 9, 2023, at the age of 80 in her home surrounded by her children after a valiant fight with Multiple Myeloma. Born on April 5, 1943, in Waterloo, Iowa, Mary moved to Phoenix at the young age of 8. It was there that she met Marc A. Richard, the father of her children, all of which held a special place in her heart. She and Marc divorced and Mary soon met David Nicely. The couple fell in love and married shortly thereafter. They were married for 32 years until David’s untimely death in 2003.
Mary had a successful career at Mohave State Bank in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, from where she retired in 2005. Initially, David and Mary wanted to retire at age 62 and travel, however, with David’s untimely death at age 60, she had to go it alone. With David’s spirit in her heart and by her side, Mary traveled to various parts of the U.S., Canada, and Tahiti and loved every minute.
In 2014 she moved to what she jokingly referred to her daughter as “Podunk Safford” to be near her daughter and son-in-law. She soon grew to love Safford and her close-knit neighborhood and she quickly became a hit at the clubhouse functions in her first few years at Lexington Pines. She was a member of the Methodist Women’s Club for several years enjoying the luncheons and her new group of friends. After the pandemic, however, Mary started attending the First Baptist Church of Safford with her daughter and son-in-law. She enjoyed Pastor Ken’s style of presenting the Word of God and the constant sense of family made her feel welcome.
Mary is survived by her sister, Kathie Bobo, of Corpus Christi, Texas; her son, Devin (Brenda) Richard, of Milwaukee Wisconsin, and her daughter, Brenda (Mark) Adamson, of Safford. She was blessed with one granddaughter and three grandsons as well as one great-grandson and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first great-granddaughter due in July. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Bentley; mother, Jean Bentley; son, Blain Richard, and husband, David Nicely. Though we say goodbye to our beloved Mary, her spirit will remain in our memories and stories of her life.
We invite you to share your fondest memories of Mary and upload cherished photos to her memorial page. Your contributions will help keep her memory alive and be a comfort to those who loved her.
Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
