Mary Lou (Douglas) Means of Ivydale, WV went to be with Jesus on June 22, 2025, at 89 years of age.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis P. Means, parents, Ray Douglas and Gertude Amy (Brannon) Douglas and bother Paul Ray Douglas and wife Letha (Bledsoe) Douglas.
She is survived by sister Nina Sue (Douglas) Yost of South Charleston, son Jeremy Ray Gardner and wife Linda of Wiscasset, ME, daughter Mary Lucinda (Cindy) Curry and husband Barry of Duck, WV. Grandchildren Alia Tanner and husband Frank of Ivydale, WV, Bethany Morris and husband Christopher of Maryville, TN, Ethan Curry of Culpepper, VA, Leah Campbell of Bath, ME and James Humphrey of Lewiston, ME as well as four great grandchildren Allison Miller, Liam Morris, Josie Curry, and Cadence Thompson and niece Amy Yost and great nephew Sean Yost.
She was loved and will be missed by her many friends, family and church community.
Mary was a graduate of South Charleston High School, earned her bachelor’s degree (1958) at Marshall College and master’s degree (1965) from Marshall University. She taught school for 30 years in both Kanawha and Putnam counties and was a principal at Hometown Elementary School. She was a past President of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, WV Chapter, and a lifetime member of the National Education Association.
She served as the music leader and treasurer of Rush Fork Community Church for many years after her retirement and return to Big Otter in Clay County where she was born.
There will be a celebration of Mary’s life at 2:00pm on July 6, 2025, at Rush Fork Community Church on Dink Road, Ivydale, WV. In leu of flowers please make donations in remembrance of Mary Means to Samaritan’s Purse https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online or charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com
Wilson Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Means family.
