Mary May Brier was born on February 9, 1933 to Curtis A. and Helen R. (Carmichael) Miller at the family home on Hetrick Road in Bath, Indiana. She had one older brother Allan D. Miller.

Growing up, Mary attended Bath School and later McGuffey High School in Oxford, Ohio. After graduating, Mary worked as a dental assistant and then at a bank in Oxford.

She met her future husband, Lewis at a young age, as their parents were best friends. On April 14, 1955, Mary and Lewis married at Bath United Methodist Church, where they both attended. It was a Thursday wedding because Mary had the day off work with the bank being closed on Thursdays. Also, her mother was responsible for cleaning the church and Mary didn't want her mom to have to clean after a Saturday wedding for Sunday worship.

Mary and Lewis lived at their farm on Liberty Pike where Mary stayed home and raised their five children: Linda (Mike) Rubush, Steven (Karri), Susan (Chris) Burchett, Lori (Gary) Ellinger, and Michael (Amelia). She willingly took care of all the household needs, cooking, shopping, cleaning (a toothbrush, toothpick, and Clorox were her favorite tools), washing, mending, and helping with homework. Even though she did not enjoy cooking, she never complained and was very good at it. She became especially famous for her yeast rolls and fruit pies, a specialty she taught four of her five children how to make, who have taught their children as well.

She learned from her mother that if you are going to do something, then do it right. She taught that same standard to her children, encouraging them to always do their best. Sometimes that meant her children were rewriting their school paper, ripping out that hem on a sewing project, or baking those cookies, muffins, or cakes multiple times until they were just right for the 4-H fair. But Mary also demonstrated how to have fun the right way. She loved hearing a good joke and had a wonderful laugh.

Outside of her home, Mary was heavily involved in her children's activities and education, lovingly serving both her church and her community. She taught Sunday school and was known to say "I only have them for one hour." So she used every minute to reinforce the lesson with stories, crafts, songs, and activities. She also played organ at Bath Church, helped lead youth group for teenagers, directed choir for adults and children, and led the Hopeful Homemakers 4-H club. She would put together many skits for the 4-H Share the Fun event, and her skit writing talents carried over to the United Methodist Women (UMW) groups for the local and district levels. If something needed to be promoted, she could come up with a creative way to get the message out.

Mary said she was shy, especially as a young girl, but it did not stop her from getting involved in UMW, where she served and supported the group for 70 years. She even traveled to some of the national conferences. With her financial skills, she served as a treasurer of UMW at the local and district level. She also held the roles of Vice President, President, and many other roles. She was also involved in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for over twenty years.

When her last child graduated from high school, Mary went back to work for a bank in Liberty until she retired. But retirement didn't stop her servant's heart. She still stayed busy, teaching Sunday school into her eighties, remaining involved in UMW and BSF, and supporting her fifteen grandchildren at their various sporting events. She also enjoyed nine great-grandchildren and has two more on the way soon.

Throughout her entire life, Mary loved and served everyone around her without ever complaining, whether she was sending cards, making party mix, giving to mission projects, or sharing frog stickers as a reminder to Fully Rely On God. Certainly, her husband of nearly seventy years, her children, her grandchildren, her church, and her community have all benefited from her quiet yet joyful service, so much like Christ, her Savior.

Mary peacefully entered her eternal home in heaven on March 9, 2025, surrounded by her husband, three of her children, conversation, and laughter.

Friends and family may visit on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Urban Winkler Liberty Funeral Home, 310 N. Main St., Liberty. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 11:00 am at Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church located at 4 W Seminary Street, Liberty with Pastor Charlie Black officiating. Burial will follow in College Corner Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions to be made to United Women in Faith or Heifer International.