Mary Rich Peery Fife

Written by Nancy Peery Marriott

February 1990

Part 1

Tonight we have all come together in celebration of Mother. She has been and is known to many here variously as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother, but the name she is called by all of us is "dear friend."

Mary Rich Peery Fife was born in Ogden, Utah to goodly God-fearing, "pioneer stock." Her paternal grandfather was Charles Coulson Rich, a pioneer giant and an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving under Presidents Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Mary is the youngest of seven children born to Dr. Edward Israel Rich (one of Utah's early medical doctors) and Emily Almira Cozzens Rich and was named after her paternal grandmother, Mary Ann Phelps Rich. She has two brothers, Thair and Junior Rich, both of whom became doctors, and four sisters, Ortel Russell, Cleone Eccles, Avon Smart and Myrene Brewer.

The Rich household at 2135 Jefferson Street in Ogden, Utah was a home full of love and, with a total of nine in the family, a scene of constant activity. There was always someone "just happening by" at dinner time. Supreme trust in God was nurtured by good parents, who guided and directed each child within a strong spiritual, academic and social environment, providing everyone with an opportunity to discover, develop and grow in his or her own way.

Mother was beautiful, popular and well-liked -- both as a friend and as a sister. She was known as "the date," the queen of events, and a real "beauty." Her interest in dance was apparent at an early age and she began studying ballet and point under Mrs. Reid, a rigorous instructor of the classical school, who had that rare ability to inspire, teach and share the excitement of self-expression through the medium of dance.

Mother progressed rapidly and became one of Mrs. Reid's star performers, receiving a scholarship in her senior year for outstanding achievement. In fact, she became so adept, she received an invitation, at the young age of sixteen, to join the Chicago Civic Opera Ballet Company, following her senior year. Her father's response was, "My dear, the thing for you to do is finish your education, marry a good man and have a family."

She heeded her father's wise counsel and continued with her educational studies in Salt Lake City, where she was already a freshman at the University of Utah. She transferred to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in her sophomore year, working toward her fine arts degree. While there, she joined the Delta Gamma sorority, danced and performed in a number of plays and made the most of her first eastern campus experience.

While home from college one summer, a long-time family friend, Horace Taylor Peery, started visiting frequently. He had recently graduate from Stanford with a degree in business administration and had been working as a clerk with the Bank of America in San Francisco. Although he was nine years her senior, Mother felt comfortable dating Taylor occasionally -- after all, she was a college woman -- and they wrote each other frequently during the following winter and early spring. Taylor's mother, with whom he lived while working at the bank, invited Mother to visit the following summer. Upon arriving in Palo Alto, Taylor courted her intensely and they quickly became engaged. Two weeks later, on September 12, 1931, the were married in the Salt Lake City Temple by President David O. McKay, a dear family friend.

Mother and dad set up housekeeping in San Francisco with some of their prized possessions -- a card table and several lovely orange crates. Dad worked at the bank, while Mother taught dance and learned the skills of homemaking. He was fortunate to have a job during those depression years and they were very mindful of keeping close watch on their money. Their faithful budgeting allowed them to move a year later to San Mateo, thus realizing a dream to leave the city to have a real home for their future family. Taylor then began commuting by train six days a week to San Francisco, which continued for twenty-six years.

What joy and excitement came into their lives when their eldest son, David Rich Peery, was born -- the start of a new generation! David was named after Dad's paternal grandfather, whom he idolized and admired for his Church and family relationships and business brilliance. Five years later, a beautiful, blonde son -- Richard Taylor Peery, blessed their lives, named in remembrance of Dad's beloved brother, Richard John. Dick's middle name continued the tradition of using Dad's mother's family name, Taylor. Two years afterwards, their youngest child, a daughter named Nancy was born. She was named in honor of Nancy Peery, Dad's maternal grandmother, and Nancy O'Neill, Grandfather Rich's grandmother. Shortly after Nancy's arrival, Dad wrote to Mother's parents, "Now there's someone that she (Mary) can tie ribbons and fuss with," and "we are both so happy to have a girl and it rounds out our family very nicely."

With the outbreak of World War II, Dad took a sabbatical from the bank to serve his country, enlisting in the Army in 1943. Mother was left to tend and take care of their three children -- David, being ten; Dick was four; and Nancy, two. Dad served on Eisenhower's staff of civil affairs, charged with planning American strategy for the _possible_ overseeing of Germany's businesses during the Allied occupation.

In 1945, with the war's end, now Lt. Colonel Horace Taylor Peery returned home to our family. He resumed his role as head of our household and relieved David of the many extra responsibilities he had borne during Dad's absence. While Dad was gone, Mother took a weekly Spanish class and enjoyed occasional day trips with friends to San Francisco for a brief change of pace and renewal of spirit and mind.

As Dad progressed through the ranks of Bank of America to finally become Vice President, Mother was always supportive. She entertained exquisitely with special attention to details and Mother and Dad's sincerity and warmth were felt by everyone entering our home. Her grace and beauty were one of Dad's "silent weapons." In hosting peoples of all levels and stations in life, as well as many of the Japanese executives important in the banking industry, Mother was indispensable and without equal.

Though busy helping Dad, Mother never forgot her role as a daughter of God or as a mother and it is this of which we are most proud. She and Dad emphasized the importance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our family, aiding us in our development of good character, integrity, and a strong sense of loyalty. We were taught to always be honest in our dealings with each other and our fellow man. There were both "doers" of the word -- "Unto whom much is given, much is required." We were always expected to do our part in making the household work smoothly and efficiently and to serve both our Church and our community, a lesson which Dick and I have imparted to our families as well.

Dad and mother were really "big" on giving us the opportunity to learn and provided lessons in arts, sports, and sciences or any other field in which they sensed we might have potential interest or talent. As a family, we participated in Sierra Club "expeditions" in the mountains, learned to snow ski, took horseback riding lessons, music and dance classes, and were taught to appreciate nature and its beauty. This exposure, coupled with extensive travelling throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, the Philippines and other countries, gave us an appreciation for and knowledge of other peoples' cultures, social customs, history, and art. We learned firsthand to be independent, to not fear what was not familiar, and that it truly "is a small world after all."

Part 2

Childhood memories of a close and warm family atmosphere are also coupled with remembrances of picnics enjoyed in the beautiful Stanford Hills grasslands, spreading Dad's Army issue blankets among the lovely mustard-colored flowers, oftentimes including Grandmother Jane Peery, affectionately called "Muvey," and Dad's sister, Virginia and her husband, Calvin Collins, and our cousins, Nick and Sharon; casual get-togethers with family, friends and neighbors at backyard bar-b-ques; traditional Christmas open houses, Sunday dinners with Stanford students and new, as well as long-standing, friends welcomed into our home and invited to join us for a meal, usually leg of lamb and Mother's famous lemon angel pie were part of the menu; and the Peery driveway crowded with teens laughing and socializing and shooting baskets, playing kick the can or hide and go seek after dinner, forming what were to become long-lasting friendships.

I remember mother being an excellent homemaker, a gracious hostess, and a well-groomed and well-dressed lady. In addition, she was an extremely gifted woman, who has exhibited a willingness to share these gifts with others. As I mentioned earlier, she loves the arts, and welcomed any chance to study, teach or enjoy them. In addition to dance, Mother plays the piano -- "Nola" being a family favorite, which, with a little prodding from her grandchildren, she will still play today. She was the organist for the Palo Alto Ward for a short time. I well remember her accompanying my brother, Dick, who played the violin and me, singing -- a true test of patience and fortitude at that time.

Flowers have been an important part of Mother's life and she has excelled in the art of flower arranging. As a little girl, I recall going with her to the Veterans' Hospital where she arranged flowers for the pleasure of the patients. Mother's avid interest in and love of flowers assured that our home was always well supplied with arrangements for our enjoyment, not just when guests were expected. These were gifts from Mother to us and we delighted in their ever-changing design and color combinations. I well remember Mother's weekly schedule included checking the flower arrangements every Tuesday and Friday to see if they needed water or replacement. Gardening, though, was Mother's true gift of love to our family and neighbors. Her fuchsias on the white-railed back fence and the tuberous begonias in the flower beds she cared for were magnificent -- I've yet to see their equal anywhere.

In addition, Mother was occasionally seen golfing, horseback riding or swimming when she had the time. And free time is something she seldom had with her many community and civic activities. She has been President of the Stanford Alumni of Delta Gamma sorority, President of the Palo Alto Garden Club, not to mention her extremely active participation in Church life. She has always served the Lord as she has been called to various positions, including teacher, Primary President, President of the Mutual, President of the Relief Society -- just to name a few. She learned a lesson early in life when her mother overheard her turning down a job to play the piano in one of the Church auxiliaries. Grandmother Rich looked Mother right in the eye and said, "I think you can do THAT much to serve the Lord!" She never forgot this wonderful teaching moment."

The year 1964 was a "year of years" for our family. After a two year battle, Dad died of arterior lateral sclerosis [Lou Gehrig disease]. Within a month, our dear brother, David -- truly a great friend -- passed away. Mother's courage and abiding faith, sustained by the love of our Lord, through these difficult and trying days was admired by her family and friends.

Time, which is a good healer, passed and as summer arrived the following year, so did a new "beau," beginning yet another chapter in Mother's interesting life. We heard, "Your mother is on a fishing trip with Aunt Avon, Uncle Jane and a David Fife." We queried, "Who's David Fife?" and were told, "David Fife's flying up from Los Angeles to see Mary every two weeks." So Dick and I started asking lots of questions -- as though we were Mother's parents, asking "Who is David?" and "What is his background?" A two month courtship for Mother and David went quickly. Whenever Dick and I talked with them, one of David's frequent comments was, "We're not getting any younger." Another quote was "When you know what you want, you don't want to waste time." And that's exactly what they did not do -- they didn't waste time. On October 23, 1965, they were married in Los Angeles and, following the ceremony, there was a lovely luncheon hosted by her brothers and sisters, my brother and Dick and me. They They honeymooned in Hawaii and have returned almost every year on their anniversary. With Mother's marriage to David, she moved from northern California and took up residence in Los Angeles.

David has been most supportive of Mother and our family. He has graciously and easily slipped into old and new friendships, often visiting family and friends in Palo Alto, Washington, D.C. and other favorite spots.

Mother and David have become world travellers, visiting Egypt, Europe, Asia, China, Japan, India, Mexico, Africa, several Scandinavian countries -- just to mention a few destinations! These trips have provided many exciting experiences and happy times for them and are relived often thanks to David's keen interest in photography. All this travelling, however, has not kept Mother from remaining active in the Church. In the first few years after their marriage, Mother was a Young Women's teacher, a choir member of Westwood Ward and a visiting teacher. Just a few years ago, she enjoyed being a Temple worker in the Los Angeles Temple, greeting new brides.

Both Dick and I and our families have enjoyed having Mother and David visit us at holiday times, special birthdays, graduations, mission farewells, weddings, summer vacations and sharing these important moments of time. We are all the richer for it.

As of last October, Mother can claim a new title in her life -- that of great grandmother. There is a definite reason for this particular adjective attached to Grandmother for GREAT is exactly what she is.

Growing up on Webster Street, I have memories of your optimism, Mother, you ability to turn trials into triumphs, your energy, your humor, your graciousness, your joy of living, your self-assurance, and your interest in and care for others before yourself. These characteristics have endeared you to every one present and those who are here in spirit. We have all benefited from your life as you have lived it and are better, more capable, more generous by having witnessed your example. You have been a teacher to us, you have enriched our lives immeasurably and we feel privileged to call you Mother, wife, sister, and friend.

For your 80th birthday, we give you our unconditional love which is more than evidenced by the support of so many of your friends and family members who have come from far and near to honor you and wish you good health, happiness and the Lord's choicest blessings in this new decade you are now entering.
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