Mary McCurry

New Palestine, Indiana – Mary McCurry celebrated her 102nd birthday with her family before heading home to the Lord on February 9, 2025. A loving woman who devoted herself to her children, she will be profoundly missed. 

Mary was born on January 25, 1923, in London, Kentucky to parents Charles & Hannah (Johnson) Hicks. She attended and graduated from Bush High School in London. Her first job out of school was wiring airplanes during WWII because she was small enough to fit into the tiny places needing attention. She met her husband, James Ervin McCurry and by the age of twenty-two they were married. She and James started a family together until his passing at the age of 31.

Mary devoted herself to raising and providing for her children. She would take any jobs available to make sure she could provide for them, jobs like sealing the little toys in their bubbles for vending machines, cutting hair for the folks around town, and making everyone's clothes.

Mary’s devotion meant that she did everything she could to keep her children happy. If she thought they were getting bored with her cooking, she might just dye the mashed potatoes blue as a surprise for them. Then each night, she would read from her large book of Bible Stories until they fell asleep.

Mary was also devoted to her church. She was a longstanding member of the Christian Tabernacle Church, of over 60 years, and volunteered as much as she possibly could. She helped with the cooking, taught Sunday school, and brought her family there for the word of God.

When Mary had time for herself, she loved crafting and cooking most of all. She was most famous for her peanut butter fudge and her Better than You Know What Cake. 

In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her husband James, daughter Rita Jack, brothers Robert, Frank, Hobert, Herbert, William, Verilla, Florence, Dora, Nellie, Martha, Sara, and Linda Faye. 

She is survived by her children James Larry McCurry (Connie), Carol Mooney, Ronnie McCurry (Vicki), and Phyllis Barnaby (Kevin); 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren. 

Visitation will be held at Christian Tabernacle (802 South Franklin Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46239) from 12 pm – 2 pm on Friday, February 14, 2025, with funeral services following at 2 pm with Pastor Kent Jordan presiding. Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Christian Tabernacle School