Mary L. Haley, 97, of Moorhead, MN, died Sunday, December 3, 2012, in Eventide Lutheran Home in Moorhead.
Mary L. Jay was born May 27, 1915, in Messina, IA, the daughter of William and Margaret (Sisk) Jay. As a young girl she moved with her family to Dilworth, MN, where attended school, graduating from Dilworth High School as the class of 1933 Valedictorian. Upon graduation she attended Dakota Business College and then worked as a secretary for Minneapolis Moline in Fargo.
On September 13, 1947, she was united in marriage to James Haley at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead. She continued to work until after her second child was born and then stayed home to raise her children. In 1966, she returned to work for Dakota Plate Glass as a secretary until 1969, when she started providing home daycare for several years. After James died in 2001, Mary moved to Eventide Lutheran Home.
She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters, Christian Mothers, where she was a former president, and the VFW Auxiliary. She was a former member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Moorhead. Mary was an avid reader and her greatest joy was her family.
Mary is survived by her children, Margaret Hahn of Palatine, IL, James (Shirley) Haley of Coralville, IA, and Beth (Paul) Bakkum of Moorhead; grandchildren, Megan Swanson, Ryan Haley and Chloe Bakkum; great-grandson, Lucas Swanson; nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son; sisters, Frances, Ann, Katherine and Margaret; and brothers, Norbert and Thomas.
Visitation: Thursday, 5 PM to 7 PM with a Prayer Service at 6 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
Funeral Mass: Friday, December 7, 2012, at 1 PM, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Moorhead.
Interment: St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead, MN