Mary Evelyn Miley

Mary Evelyn Hood Miley

Columbus—Mary Evelyn Hood Miley, 97, passed away on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Trinity Place Personal Care, Columbus. Born on August 2, 1919, in Amory, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Armon Richard and Vera Evelyn Durrett Hood.

Mary Evelyn attended Amory High School and Belhaven College where she received a BS degree in Business Education. Her first job right out of college was for Mississippi Power and Light in Jackson, Mississippi. Later, she went to work at the “bullet” factory in Prairie, Mississippi. Mary Evelyn married the love of her life, Lester Miley, on May 30, 1943 in Amory and together they were blessed with a son and a daughter. Her most important job of her lifetime was that of a homemaker. For many years, she worked as a bookkeeper for the Aberdeen Public School System. She was a true Southern lady who was kind, loving, patient, sweet and gracious. Her faith in Christ guided her life and her family gave her the most enjoyment and pride in her life. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Amory for many years and she loved the Lord.

Like all genuine Southern ladies, Mary Evelyn could entertain with the best of them. She loved to set her dining table elegantly with seasonal decorations that complimented her china and silverware. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends and being a hostess for the group in her home.


Through the years, she was blessed with many close friends and family in Amory, Aberdeen and beyond. She touched lives with her kindness wherever she went. Known affectionately as “GanGan”, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren adored her! In her retirement home, Trinity Place Personal Care, she was very competitive in Bingo and she enjoyed the fellowship of staff and other residents there. Mary Evelyn loved to read; work word search puzzles, do counted cross-stitch, and watch Wheel of Fortune and Mississippi State University athletic events on TV in her spare time.

She is survived by her son, William Lester (Bill) Miley (Teresa), Columbus; daughter, Mary Ann Ballew (Stuart), Brandon; grandchildren, William Brent Miley (Jessica), Hattiesburg, Jill Alayne Stevens (Drew), Oxford, Mary Kathryn Abels, (Joey), Madison, Great-grandchildren: William Reed Miley, Miley Evelyn Stevens, John Andrew Stevens II, and Laura Kathryn Abels.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Lester Miley.

Her funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M., Friday, January 13, 2017, at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory with Dr. Allen Simpson and Bro. Jimmy McFatter officiating. Music will be provided by Ray Burke and Matt Chisholm. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Brent Miley, Drew Stevens, Joey Abels, Larry Palmer, Steve Greenhaw, Paul Knox, Brent Jones, and David Henry. Honorary pallbearers will be the staff and dear friends of Trinity Place Personal Care.

Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until the service hour on Friday, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Lawrence and Louise Palmer Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 540, Amory, Ms 38821

Condolences and memories may be shared with her family at eepicklefuneralhome.com