Mary Elizabeth Heady Finley passed from this life, on June 13, 2025, in her home, surrounded by her family. She was reunited with the love of her life, Lonnie Finley.
Mary was born Jan. 24, 1935, in Sparta, to Tolbert Heady and Linnie Nabors Heady.
She graduated from White County High School and soon after met and married Lonnie, her husband of 69 years.
Mary worked at Sparta Shirt Factory, Thomas Industries, and then retired after 25 years from Mallory Timers. She was a hard worker and willingly sacrificed for her family. She was kind and caring. She helped many people over the years and never wanted recognition. She was fun-loving and never said no to a game of UNO, Dominos, or Bingo!
Mary worked hard, and she also loved hard. She was always striving to make a good life for her family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest treasure! She spent countless hours teaching them to love God, each other, and the people around them. She left her whole family an example and legacy of strength, caring, and love.
She will be greatly missed, but it’s a comfort to know that Mom and Dad are now reunited with each other and with their Savior.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Lonnie; son, Jerry; brothers, Marvin, Hewey, Dewey, and J.D. Heady; sister, Vonna Norris; and son-in-law, Ronnie Jolley.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Beverly Jolley, Lisa Carter (Mike), Angela King (J.T.); grandchildren, Amy Jones (Jason), Ashley Umberger (Teague), Amber Franklin (Levi), Audrey King, Gage King, Blake Carter (Sidney), Jared Carter (Ashlyn); great-grandchildren, Laklyn Noseworthy (Miles), Mia Chinchilla; brother, Henry Heady; sisters-in-law, Maxine Selby, Cathy Stamper, Carol Nash; brother-in-law, Loyd Finley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thank you to Lisa Richards and Gail Dabbs. We cannot express in words what all of the love and care that you gave to our sweet mama means to us! Hospice of Tennessee: Madison and Sarah
Funeral service was 1 p.m., June 17, 2025, at Hunter Funeral Home, with burial in Copeland Chapel Cemetery. Danny Lane officiated.
J.T. King, Gage King, Mike Carter, Blake Carter, Levi Franklin, Teague Umberger, and Todd Officer served as pallbearers.
Memorial donations can be made to Clouse Cemetery Fund in care of Hunter Funeral Home, P.O. Box 90, Sparta, Tennessee 38583
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
