Mary McCully

Mary Elizabeth Branch McCully, 88, of Hot Springs, died Sunday, August 11, 2013. She was born January 26, 1925, to Zachary Branch and Eura Mason Branch. After graduating from Hot Springs High School in 1943, she worked at a defense plant in Kentucky until the end of the war. At age 20, she began her career at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Hot Springs as an operator and later a network administration clerk until her retirement after almost 40 years of dedicated service. She continued to be a proud member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. In 1948, she married her true love James K. McCully, becoming his "guardian angel" for almost 65 years. She was the dearly beloved mother of Nancy McCully Shipp and James K. McCully, Jr., teaching them to lead their lives following her extraordinary Christian example. As a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for over 50 years, she had served as church clerk and children's Sunday School teacher. Well-known for her loving devotion in the support of her family from an early age, she will also be remembered for her sweet spirit toward all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, her youngest brother Paul Branch, and her cousins Mary Kay Mason Pyron and Gene Mason, who spent their younger years as part of her immediate family and under her guidance as the oldest child, a role she repeated throughout her life in caring for others—family and friends. In addition to her husband and children, she leaves behind her loving brother, Zachary Branch, Jr. and his wife Betty; sister-in-law, Wanda Branch; brother-in-law, Howard McCully; sister-in-law, Audrey McCully; son-in-law, George Shipp and several nieces and nephews. The family thanks Dr. John Featherston, Caregiver Quin with Barbara's Golden Years, Chaplain Kathy Reed, Gentiva Home Health, Garland Rehab, and Crown Trace Villa for their kindness to her. Honorary pallbearers are Warren Pittman, Mike Karber, Mike Branch, and Alan Story. Visitation will be 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Hot Springs Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 14. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15 with Reverend Bill Carter officiating. Burial will be private at Crestview Cemetery.