Mary Frances Graybeal Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness, we announce the passing of the Matriarch of our family, Mary Frances Graybeal, on June 25, 2022. In her 90th year, she left this world peacefully with loved ones by her side. Mary was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend. She lived a full life and greatly touched the lives of everyone she knew. Mary was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, to Henry T. Kenney and Daisy L. (Powell), on February 24, 1932. Later in life, she relocated to Delaware, with her first husband Harold E. Decker Sr., where they started their beautiful family. While raising her family, Mary worked for Crown Zellarbach for many years. Following her divorce from her first husband, Harold, she later married Charles Graybeal. After her retirement, Mary spent a few years working at DelCastle High School as a Lunch Lady where students also called her “Mommom”. Outside of work, she enjoyed bowling, delighted in daily outings of shopping, along with making sure her hair and nails were always done. She was always sewing and crafting something! She made beautiful floral arrangements for special occasions or memorials for the cemetery and would make trips to place them at the gravesites of dearly loved family. Mary also loved to bake! Her specialties were homemade pies, cakes, rolls, breads, and her famous homemade jelly (strawberry was the favorite). Summertime was Mary’s favorite season, and she and her husband loved the many years spent on their boat with family and friends in Rockhall, Maryland. Christmastime was special for Mary as well, she loved decorating her house for the season, and every gift was wrapped perfectly with ribbons and bows. She gifted each family with a basket of her homemade baked and craft goods. She always filled her candy dishes, especially with one of her favorites - ribbon candy! When it came to greeting cards, Mary cherished each one she received from her dear family and friends and saved them all! She always took special care in choosing cards from her collection for all of us, and we always looked forward to her sweet message in any card we received. She also loved taking her grandchildren to Dunkin Donuts for bagels, or breakfast at McDonald’s and Bob Evans. She and her husband also enjoyed attending church together, at Bible Fellowship Church in Newark. Mary lived in Delaware until the passing of her beloved husband, Charlie, in 2019. She then moved to Georgia, where she was able to soak up all the moments and memories of love and care with her family there. Mary loved all of her family deeply, and proudly told others about ALL of her grandchildren and how many she had. She instilled morals and values in her children and grandchildren that have and will continue to serve us well. She leaves behind a legacy of family, strength, and love and will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts. Mary is survived by her beloved children: Barbara J. Mikulcik (John F. Mikulcik Jr.), Diane M. Harvie, Harold E. Decker Jr. “Bucky” (Teri), and Charlie’s son: David Graybeal (Claudia); grandchildren: Sherrie Mikulcik, Linda Mikulcik, Stacy Arp, Kevin Harvie “Rusty”, Lauren Tuten, Jennifer DuHamell (Jordan), Lyndsey Ferrara (Matthew), Rudy Thompson (Emily), Christopher Graybeal and Alyssa Graybeal great-grandchildren: Katlynn Key “Katy” (Andrew), Mathew, Krista (Scott), John Bradley (Tessa), Savannah (Cameron), James, Hailey, Julianna, Alyssa, Alana, Austin, Isabella, Anderson, Jillian, Logan, Kayleigh, Jeremiah, Andrew, Ethan, Josh, Benjamin, Charlotte and Jackson; great-great Grandchildren: Laney, Paisleigh, Grayson, Hartley, Emma, Houston, Tucker, Branch, and Krista’s baby due any time now. Mary was predeceased by her devoted husband of 44 years, Charles H. Graybeal; mother, Daisy L. Jones; father, Henry T. Kenney; brother, Richard Kenney “Dickie”; her first husband, Harold E. Decker Sr.; cherished daughters: Bonnie Decker, Debra Miller “Debbie”, and Cathy Shirley; and precious great-grandson, Andrew Arp. A visitation will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2022, from 11 AM-12 Noon at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, DE 19702 followed by a service in celebration of Mary’s life at 12 Noon. Burial will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Spina Bifida Association www.spinabifidaassociation.org or The Bible Fellowship Church of Newark, Delaware, 808 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, DE 19702. For directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.stranofeeley.com

Mary Frances Graybeal

February 24, 1932 - June 25, 2022