Mary Gay Stone

Mary Gay Stone, 95, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family and with the same wonder, strength and resilience she lived with. Mary Gay met Howard Stone on a blind date while attending a party at the University of Illinois at Chicago. What started as a less than desirable first impression became the defining love story of her life. Given a second chance, Howard won her heart. Together they shared 73 years of marriage, raising five children and building a family that would eventually include thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mary Gay was a nurse, dedicated to caring for others through her work with the University of Illinois, the American Red Cross, Decatur Public Schools and the Macon County Health Department. She was also an active member of the St. Mary's Medical Center Auxiliary and devoted countless hours to her church, Holy Family in Decatur, Illinois. Mary Gay had a lifelong love affair with the ocean. Some people are drawn to the sea, Mary Gay was made for it. Curaçao held a special place in her heart, providing countless cherished memories of underwater adventures and time spent with family. She took her children and grandchildren gently by the hand and introduced them to the ocean’s mysteries and delight. Whether she was scuba diving along the drop-off near Santa Martha Bay, snorkeling outside Coral Cliff, admiring the endless horizon waiting for a green flash at sunset, or simply listening to the rhythm of the waves from her porch with a glass of wine, the ocean reflected so much of who she was…a woman of conviction, curious, joyful, and full of grace. It was there she felt most at home, most alive, most at peace, and most free. She approached her life with the same enthusiasm she brought to exploring the sea, always eager to discover something new, meet someone new, or appreciate the beauty around her. She found genuine joy in sharing her passions with her children and, later, her grandchildren. Mary Gay was a Cub Scout leader who taught her eldest son how to safely use a pocketknife, turning every outing and adventure into a memorable lesson. She didn’t just make learning an adventure with her children; she did it with her grandchildren. Whether birdwatching from the living room window with a guidebook in hand or volunteering as a train conductor educating visitors about the animals at Scovill Zoo, she had a gift for making the ordinary feel extraordinary. An artist and storyteller, Mary Gay saw beauty everywhere she looked. Nature was the subject of her creative work. She sketched, painted, drew, photographed and typed stories of adventure, observation and imagination. Her creativity was not confined to a canvas or a page; she viewed life itself as art. As technology evolved, Mary Gay embraced it enthusiastically. First armed with a pen, then a typewriter, later a computer and finally an iPad. She became prolific at corresponding, connecting with family and friends through email and Facebook. Few could write an email with her speed. She wrote about her days in vivid detail. Her messages often arrived without punctuation and occasionally in all capital letters, a trademark style that became as beloved as Mary Gay herself. Reading a note from her felt less like receiving an email and more like having a conversation with her across the living room. In decades when it was often preferred that a woman be seen and not heard, Mary Gay was both. Mary Gay was never one to accept limits simply because someone else had set them. Rules, in her view, were often invitations to think differently. She never backed down, never took no for an answer. If she wasn't invited to the table, she would walk in, pull up a chair, sit tall with her shoulders back, and make sure her voice was heard. Confident, fearless, creative, and determined; she spent 95 years refusing to be silenced. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Carolyn Maley; her siblings, Joan Kelly, Charles Barrett, and John Barrett; and her parents, Catherine Mary Barrett and Charles Barrett. Mary Gay is survived by her husband, Howard A. Stone and her children, Kathy Koscielniak (Joseph), Charles Stone, Marianne Considine (Bryan), and Stephen Stone (Tabitha); her son-in-law, Michael Maley and daughter-in-law, Lori Stone; her grandchildren, Jennifer Koscielniak, Elizabeth Yerkes (Nick), Jessica Koscielniak Katopodis (Tasos), Michele Maley Huffman, Nicholas Considine (Morgan), Charissa Stone (Michaela), Brittany Keck-Flory (Samuel), Michael Stone, Barrett Stone (Maggie), Jacob Stone (Courtney), Resse Considine (Frank) Timothy Jude Stone, and M. Benjamin Stone; and her great-grandchildren, Noah Jaggers, Sarah Jaggers, Addison Huffman, Avery Huffman, Caroline Keck-Flory, Madeline Keck-Flory, and James Keck-Flory, along with many beloved extended family members and close friends. Mary Gay’s legacy lives on through the many lives she touched and the values she shared. She showed her family that life is meant to be lived fully and that joy can be found in the simplest moments, whether gathered around the table at Thanksgiving, watching birds in the backyard, or listening to the waves meet the shore. A Catholic Mass celebrating her life and memorial luncheon will be held this fall. In lieu of flowers, Mary Gay’s final wishes asked that donations be made to The Benja Project, a non-profit organization, building schools in Uganda. Founded by her son Stephen in honor of M. Benjamin’s Ugandan family nearly 20 years ago. Those who loved her take comfort in imagining her once again in her favorite place, surrounded by the beauty of the sea, free and at peace. Her memory will remain a guiding light for all who were fortunate enough to know and love her. Burns Funeral Home, Crown Point entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Mary’s online obituary and guestbook at www.burnsfuneral.com.

Mary Gay Stone

November 5, 1930 - August 26, 2026