Mrs. Mary Alice Bunch Shivers' Obituary
Longview – Mrs. Mary Alice Bunch Shivers, 79, of 802 Camille Drive, Longview, Texas, lost her battle to cancer on Sunday, February 11th, at 3:05 pm at her home with family. She now rests in Heaven with everyone she loved. Mary is survived by: Her husband of 62 years Billy Ray Shivers; her daughters Angela Kim Shivers Stewart & Shawn Elaine Shivers McCord; her grandchildren Wesley Lamar Stewart & wife Colleen Beyer Stewart, Elizabeth Mary McCord, & Jacob Matthew McCord; sister Elaine Bunch Pinkerton & husband Donald Pinkerton, and brother Sill Bunch & wife Judy Bunch.
Mary was born in New Orleans, LA July 30th, 1938. Her family moved to Diboll, TX shortly after birth.
She grew up on Park Street, playing with her sister Elaine and brother Sill and the rest of the neighborhood kids. Mary climbed everything, frequently jumping off and hurting herself as kids do. This explains the scar she had over her eye. She attended Diboll High School, graduating in 1955. Mary won Dogwood Duchess her senior year, was Vice-President and clarinet player for the band, yearbook staff member, senior class officer, F.F.A Sweetheart, Editor of the school newspaper, and voted by the senior class “Wittiest” and “Friendliest.” She also met the love of her life at first sight there too, Billy Ray Shivers, who won “Most Handsome” the same year.
Billy and Mary tied the knot December the 24th, 1955, the same date that her parents – Lamar Ramsey Bunch & Beatrice Herring Bunch – married as well. On January 6th, 1956 she became an Air Force wife for twenty years. Throughout her service, her family moved to various locations, such as Alaska, New York, and Valdosta to name a few. While in Anchorage, Alaska, Mary held the title of executive secretary for the engineering firm Trick, Niman, and Hayes and survived the 1964 earthquake. While in New York, she regularly attended Yankee baseball games, watching her idol Mickey Mantle play. She won Woman of the Year in 1975 at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA.
Mary achieved great accomplishments in her long life. Some include: receiving the Jim Roberts
Lifetime Achievement Award for service in 1973 and participating in girls’ softball throughout the years in Longview, starting off as the head coach of the Daisy’s in 1977. After some time, she left coaching to work behind the scenes, as commissioner and manager of concessions until recently. She held civic duty very close to the heart, staunchly believing that everyone should be involved in their local community. Mary holds multiple college and university degrees, her most cherished coming from University of Texas – Tyler, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education. She was a founding member of the Herring Family Reunion. Mary’s wit, organization, passion, and determination has kept this reunion going strong since its introduction almost 25 years ago.
Her hobbies included avid reading, setting Billy Ray Shivers straight, storytelling, softball, diehard Dallas Cowboy’s fan, gardening, family genealogy, cooking, bowling, Christmas decorating, bird watching, collecting sea shells, lifelong member of the Longview’s women’s club, Star Wars fan (especially Yoda), and playing games with her family and friends.
Her family was her life and she made sure they always knew it. She always made time for anyone who needed advice or just wanted to talk (unless there was something in the oven). Mary was and is the cornerstone to her immediate and extended family, making our ties stronger, no matter the time or distance apart. Mary Alice Shivers was a titan, who left a mark on everyone she came in contact with, whether by her words, laugh, smile, selflessness, sense of humor, or kindness she showed all. She was the best, damn grandmother, mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend anyone could wish for. We all love her and miss her tremendously.
The family would like to send love and thanks to HeartsWay Hospice, especially her nurse Susan Jackson, as well as her Dr. Lewis Duncan, Longview Cancer Center. The family request in lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to: HeartsWay Hospice, Women’s Health Boutique, American Legion Post 140 – Longview, or Longview Girls Softball Association.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary ?
Share a story where Mary 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?