Mary E. Hargett

Mary Ellen (Davis) Hargett, 91, of Battle Creek passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Mary was born April 9, 1931, in Tremont, Mississippi to Euel Verter and Willie Mae (Maxey) Davis.

Mary Ellen was second of eleven children.   She was raised on a farm in northern Mississippi.  She worked on the farm picking cotton and other crops, tending to her younger siblings and assisting with household chores. She married her high school sweetheart, Ross  Edward Hargett on October 2, 1950. She moved north with Ross (as he had done previously with two of her brothers, Richard and Raymond), to find employment (during the northern migration years) in Adrian, MI.

When Ross’s induction notice was served, they returned south.  She lived with her in-laws, Ross and Thelma Hargett in Alabama.  From there she would travel to the Camp Lejeune Marine Base, in North Carolina, to spend time with Ross prior to his deployment to Korea.  

When Ross left the military they returned to Michigan where Ross began his career in outdoor advertising.  Mary Ellen and Ross eventually began their own successful outdoor sign business in 1981; she helped run the business with Ross, and later with her son Douglas.  She was still working in the sign business until 2022.

Mary Ellen took  many trips, often to be with family. There were annual trips to bring her mother to visit Susan in Connecticut. Later there were “grandchildren tours” east to spend time with each of her grandchildren and then great grandchildren.  She enjoyed trips to the South to see her sister, Nell.  She wanted to see all of the US and traveled to the West Coast states, as well as Hawaii and Alaska.

Mary Ellen loved gardening her entire life.  Her yard was a showplace with many flower beds, a variety of blooming plants and hanging baskets each year. 

She was a devoted member of Victory Baptist Church, having joined the church when moving to Battle Creek circa 1965.  She valued her many friends and fellowship in the church community. 

Mary Ellen was the ultimate caregiver.  Over the years she cared for the children of many friends and neighbors.   Many of those children became lifelong friends and part of the family. 

She also cared for her husband and her son during the last years of their lives.  She assisted numerous family members when help was needed, as well her friends.  In 2022, she was still driving, shopping for and generally assisting “the old people,” to allow them to continue living independently.  She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and served as a role model for a life well-lived.  She will be very greatly missed.  

Mary is survived by her daughter, Susan (David) Horner; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Megan) Horner, Sarah (Ryan) Elmy, Katherine (John) Domanski and great-grandchildren Layla and Isabelle Horner and eight out of ten siblings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ross Edward Hargett,  May 23, 2012 and son, Ross Douglas “Doug” Hargett, September 6, 2022.  

A funeral service for Mary will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. with family receiving friends an hour prior at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 105 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017.  The service will be livestreamed and be available to view at https://vimeo.com/815085352/db90ebd96f.  Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery, with a gathering to follow at Clara’s, 44 N. McCamly, Battle Creek, MI 49017.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Victory  Baptist Church, 17009 11 1/2 Mile Road, Battle Creek, MI 49014.  Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.