Mary Ackley || Obituary

The angels came to escort Mary Ackley, 92, to her heavenly home on September 20, 2022.

Mary Alice Mixon Ackley was born on April 6, 1930 in Pampa, Texas to Minnie and William Sam Mixon, but was raised by her mother and step-father, Vade Sharp. She has 2 sisters and a brother, Charene White (husband Dale of Denton, Texas), Loyce McKee (of Tennessee), and Royce Mixon (wife Luisa of Paris, Texas).  She married her sweetheart, Clarence Charles “CC” Ackley, on October 5, 1946. Upon his death in 2004, they had been married for 57 years. Their first child, Dr. Dale Ackley, was born January 3, 1949. In 1967, Mary and Charles adopted Gayle, followed by Lonny a year later.  Dale went to be with the Lord on January 26, 2022.  His wife, Kathy, resides in Fresno, California.  Gayle Ackley Collard (husband Brad Collard) and Lonny Ackley (wife Dawn Ackley) reside in Paris, Texas. Mary is also survived by 5 grandchildren:  Jim Ackley (wife Michelle of Fresno, California), Jason Ackley of Yakima, Washington, Dr. Brittany Ackley of Texarkana, Arkansas, Mallory Ackley North (husband Caleb North of Paris, Texas), and Payton Barrios of Paris, Texas. She is also survived by 2 great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Ackley Solorio (husband Michael of Fresno, California), Bradley James Ackley of Fresno, California, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Ackley of Washington and Joey Ackley of Washington.

She graduated from Mobeetie High School in 1947.  She and her husband, Reverend Charles, pastored and evangelized for years and eventually settled in Rancho Cordova, California. She played the piano, accordion, and sang. She then worked as a telephone operator for the Pacific Bell Telephone Company.  Soon after that, she and her husband owned and operated Cordova Jewelers in Rancho Cordova for almost 20 years.  In 1982 they moved to Paris, Texas where they continued their ministry.  Mary spent several years sewing for JC Penney.  Later, she and her husband opened their home to caring for elderly women in the form of assisted living.  She enjoyed sewing, playing games like Aggravation and Uno with her friends, putting together jigsaw puzzles with her grandchildren, but most importantly she delighted in serving others. She was a member of the Paris Church of God for 40 years.  We now transfer her membership to the heavenly tabernacle in glory.

For the last 2 decades of her life, she lived with and was cared for by her brother, Royce Mixon, and his wife, Luisa.

She will be remembered as a faithful wife, mother, grandmother “Mema”, great-grandmother, sister, friend, and prayer warrior. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 23, 2022, in the chapel of Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in Meadowbrook Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 1:00 PM till service time on Friday.

Pallbearers will be Payton Barrios, Caleb North, Dalton Gilliam, Cannon Kent, Garrett Young, and Stosh Skinner.