Mary L. Byrnes, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025, at the age of 94. Mary carried with her a blend of Southern warmth and West Coast spirit throughout her life. She will be remembered fondly for her warm smile, fierce independence, quick wit, and the beauty, love, and warmth she brought into the world through her gardens, her artwork, and the many lives she touched.

Mary was born on March 20, 1931, in Beaumont, Texas, to John George and Ethel Waugh Elder, and was raised in Vallejo, California. After graduating from Vallejo High School in 1949 and from Sacramento College of Nursing in 1953, Mary began working as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She met Robert H. Byrnes, a WWII Air Force veteran and pilot, while they were both based in Chicago. After a whirlwind romance they eloped to Reno in April 1955. Mary and Bob had four children together: Patricia, Barbara, Michael, and Robert. Mary was a devoted mother and lovingly guided her family through multiple moves: from Madison, Wisconsin; to Torrance, Redondo Beach, and Palos Verdes, California; to Bloomington, Minnesota; before finally settling in Thousand Oaks, California, where they attended St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church. As their children grew she returned to work as a nurse at Los Robles Hospital. In 1996, Mary moved to San Rafael, California, where she enjoyed gardening, painting, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren. She became an active member of the Marin County chapter of Clipped Wings, supporting Special Olympic athletes around the world.

Mary's talent and creativity were expressed in her two passions: gardening and painting. Known for her remarkable green thumb, she cultivated stunning gardens and champion roses wherever she lived. Mary was an accomplished watercolor painter whose work revealed an eye for delicate details and soft landscapes, especially in her coastal scenes. She also loved music and the performing arts, volunteering for many years at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center. Mary was an avid reader with eclectic tastes that included Agatha Christie murder mysteries, Calvin and Hobbes comics, and all things Peanuts by Charles Schulz. She was an enthusiastic birdwatcher, a faithful Jeopardy! viewer, and a die-hard fan of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.

In 2015, Mary moved to Fresno to live with her daughter Barbara and son-in-law Donald. Her later years were filled with simple joys: watching backyard birds, reading, tending the garden, going for walks, enjoying beautiful sunsets, and visiting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. In her final weeks, the show Touched By an Angel brought her a great deal of comfort. Mary was blessed to have many wonderful and devoted caregivers whom she considered friends: Janet Gaynor, Cori Aunger, Vickie Davis, Marjorie Dau, and Rhonda Morris. Her family is also deeply indebted to Valley Regional Hospice and Nurse Sheryl for their kindness and support during the final two weeks of her life.

Mary is survived by three of her four children: Patricia Byrnes Dexter (David), Barbara Byrnes Damschen (Donald), and Robert Byrnes; her five grandchildren: John Dexter, James Dexter, Carolyn Wise (Brian), Robert Damschen (Dawn), and Kathryn Seah; and three great-grandchildren: Claire Wise, Owen Damschen, and Mackenzie Damschen. She is preceded in death by her son Michael, former husband Robert H. Byrnes, sister Naida Elder Chevrier, and brother George Oliver Elder.