Mary Louise (Tarver) Lee

Mary Louise Lee, 78 of Picayune, passed away on March 06, 2025 in Pass Christian. She was born on January 31, 1947 in Pinehurst, GA., part of eleven children total and the oldest of eight to the late William Columbus Tarver and Lela Marie (Moran) Tarver Peterson. Mary grew up in Hancock county primarily where she enjoyed the outdoors, camping, and being on the water. Being part of a large family meant there was always something going on, especially music. The whole family was musically inclined and they loved to get together and just play and have fun. Mary attended a few different schools in her time, from Bay St. Louis to Hancock county. Once her educational pursuits were done, Mary started her family and made her home in Hancock county as well. Over the years, she raised her three children basically on her own, and did whatever she needed to do to provide for them. She is remembered as a loving family woman who was a tough as nails, but had the softest heart of all. Mary remained close with her brothers and sisters, doing everything with at least one of her sisters. Being the oldest of the bunch, Mary had more of a hand in raising them, all while being their sister at the same time. In her spare time, she loved playing bingo. On Wednesdays you would find her at the church playing, and on Friday it was off to Gulfport...for bingo with her son Greg. She also enjoyed all the family gatherings and music sessions through the years, plus she liked building things. She could do most anything really, taking things that others might throw away and turning them into keepsakes. Ever the loving sister, mother, and grandmother, Mary and her lasting smile will live forever in the hearts of all who knew her. She was preceded by her parents, mother Lela Peterson, and father W. C. Tarver; her son James Clark; sisters Carolyn Rushing and Ruby Nixon, and a brother, Steve Tarver. Left to cherish her memories are: her daughter Teressa (Harris, Jr.) Ladner and son Greg Clark, both of Pass Christian; her daughter-in-law Theresa Tate of Picayune; her sister Debra Navis of Wisconsin, and brothers Frank (Lynda) Tarver of Kiln, Tommy (Debra) Tarver of Georgia, Ray (Shirley) Tarver of Texas, with Steve, Tracy, and Mike Tarver, all of Texas; and a special niece, Jessica (Harvey) Tarver of Saucier. Mary leaves a legacy of three grandchildren: Jacquelyn, Ryan, and Amber, plus five great-grands: Wesley, Chord, Emery, Lexi and Levi, along with numerous extended family members and friends through the years. Services have been set for Monday, March 10 at Picayune Church of God. Visitation begins at 12:00 noon, followed by the funeral service at 2:00 PM, with Pastor Saxon Odom and Pat Lee officiating. Afterward Mary will be laid to rest in Flat Top Cemetery. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to her niece Jessica, her brother Frank, and her cousin Pat for all their efforts in caring for Mary. You all will never know how much you meant. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Lee family in their time of need and asks that you remember them in your thoughts and prayers through the days ahead.