Mary entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at the age of 91.  Highlights of Mary's life include growing up in the country; a career of teaching and tutoring; and joyful love and care for a cadre of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Known to many as "Grandma Mary" whether or not there was any familial relation, she extended love through her warm smile, ready hugs, written and spoken words of encouragement, generosity and sharing food of any kind.  The connections she fostered with those around her were deep and meaningful.  She will be sorely missed.

Her devotion to God is evident in her love for others; her service in teaching and tutoring; and many years of helping in "5 Days of Fun" at Northwest Church.  She seemed to have her "ear to the ground" looking for opportunities to help and serve.  It was her desire for all she knew to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and establish an eternal address.

She was preceded in death by her son, Timothy Alan Fifield in February 1957, grandson, Joel Galanti in 1982, her husband, James Edward Fifield in 2005 and her brother, Donald Fantz.

She is survived by her four children, Darrell Fifield and wife, Judy, Laurie Fifield, Leslie Wiens and husband, Loren, and Stephen Fifield and wife, Kathy and their families; sister, Arlyn (Fantz) Presley; and a myriad of relatives and friends.

The following is the life story of Mary Fifield as told at her 90th birthday party:

Two sets of grandparents were waiting for birth of Mary Jeanette Fantz, the child to be born to parents who were teachers and new-comers to California, having lived in Missouri all their lives.  On her mother's side, the grandparents had just recently moved from Missouri to here and she would be the first baby in their family born in California.  On her father's side, she would be the first grandbaby born in a big 2-story house in Del Rey, California, on March 2, 1928, the birth being attended by a friend (and mid-wife) of Mary's mother, Frances. Mary's mother was Frances Mary (Hahn) Fantz and her father was William Ira Fantz.

In 14 months, she became a sister to Arlyn.  Then, a year later, became a sister to a brother, Donald Fantz.  Her mother, was a very busy lady with 3 babies.  Mary, Arlyn, and Donald were a handful but were soon keeping each other entertained.  Their mom told them in later years that they all got along very well.

Mary's family lived in Del Rey, then moved to Monmouth where her dad was teaching.  One day when the 3 were playing in the sand box, her mom noticed Donald, the baby, was choking and she realized Mary (only 3) was happily playing "feed the baby" and was giving Donald sand in a spoon.  Her mom quickly dug the sand out of Donald's throat.

In Del Rey, Mary's family attended the Methodist church and Mary was in her mom's Sunday School class for the younger group, the beginning of Mary becoming a devout Christian.  Her mother told this little joke about little Mary:  After church one day, Mary asked her mother, "Who is Mary Ann?"  Her mom answered, "I don't know any Mary Ann."  Mary insisted that her mother knew a girl named Mary Ann.  She said, "Yes you do! You're always saying, MaryAnd Jesus."

The next 7 years were spent in Del Rey.  Mary developed a love for reading.  She would check out 4 and 5 books at a time from the library.  The family was lucky to have a Fresno County Library right in their own front yard.  Their dad had leased one of their buildings, that was right next to their home, out to the Fresno County Library system!

They moved to Raisin City when their dad got a job as a principal and was 7 ^th & 8 ^th grade teacher there.  One time when Mary wanted to check out the big thick book of "Gone With The Wind", the librarian in Raisin City wouldn't let Mary check out that book because she thought it was to "racy" for young Mary to read.

Mary and Arlyn had a unique experience for when they were in the 7 ^th & 8 ^th grades at Raisin City-their father was their teacher.  Mary went to Caruthers High School for her freshman year.

They moved to their ranch between Parlier and Sanger after living in Raisin City for 4 years.

Mary graduated from Parlier High School and then went to Reedley College for one year, and that summer she met her husband, Jim Fifield, who had just been honorably discharged from the Navy. They married 3 months later, August 12, 1946 in Los Angeles, and that very summer Mary got a job teaching in Pixley, California.

Teachers were hard to find after the war and Mary started teaching with an "Emergency Credential".  That started her teaching career in Madera and she has taught for well over 40 years, though she had a 16 year break to raise her children.  After retirement, she tutored and taught reading part-time for Fresno Unified.  Both she and her husband Jim, who taught Auto Shop at Madera High School, retired from their many years of teaching in Madera on December 31, 1986.

During those years and up to the present time, Mary and Jim became the parents of 4: Darrell, Laurie, Leslie, and Stephen.  Her dear husband, Jim passed away of cancer 14 years ago.

In reflecting Mary's life, we can see the truth of the following Bible verse:  "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."  Isaiah 46:4

A Graveside Service will be held at Sanger Cemetery, 568 S. Rainbow Road, Sanger, CA 93657 on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 10:00 AM.

A Memorial Service will be held at Northwest Church, corner of West and Barstow Avenues in Fresno, on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 11:00 AM.

Remembrances may be made to Northwest Church or World Impact of Fresno, c/o Northwest Church, 5415 N. West Ave., Fresno, CA 93711.