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Mary Elizabeth (Richardson) Fields, 82, of Elizabethton, Tenn., passed away at Bristol Regional Hospital under Ballad Hospice on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Miss Mary (as she was known) was born to Gay and Delmer Richardson at their home in Damascus, Va., on January 13, 1942. Mary grew up in Damascus, Piney Flats and Shady Valley. Mary moved to Sarasota, Fla., in 1964 where she met Irwin Fields. After dating only six weeks they were married until Irwin’s death in 2001. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson, Elliot Fields, sisters, Arlene Overstreet and Helen Carty, and brothers, Arthur Richardson, Paul Richardson, LeeRoy Richardson and Elmer Richardson.

Miss Mary was many things but first she was a Christian, being baptized in Corpus Christi, Texas in the early 1970s.

She was a very proud wife of a United States Marine. She followed Irwin to multiple bases. She kept a home and cared for their four children while he was gone on multiple assignments over the years. Mary ironed and starched all of his uniforms and covers, making the starch from scratch. She wore a shirt that said the only thing tougher than a Marine is being married to a Marine. 

Miss Mary was a homemaker. While raising four children she also was Cub Scout den leader, Girl Scout leader, and a homeroom mother, many times over. She made home-made costumes and sewed dresses for dances.

In addition to raising four children, she also helped raise many other children. That is why she was affectionately known as Miss Mary. Her home was always full after school with kids doing homework and eating snacks until their parents picked them up after work.

Miss Mary loved to crochet! She crocheted all the time and became extremely skilled. She also loved gospel music, listening to radio preachers and watching the Weather Channel. 

But her favorite thing to do was talk to her sisters on the phone! 

Those left to cherish her memory are daughters, Julia McDonald and husband Bill of Logan, W.Va., and Susan Fields of Elizabethton, Tenn.; her sons, Irwin “Buddy” Fields and wife Melissa and Robert “Bobby” Fields and wife Jamie of Elizabethton, Tenn.; grandchildren, James Hardin and Caleb McDonald (fiancée Shelby McCloud) of Logan, W.Va., Emily Fields (Chase Honeycutt) and Gracie Fields, both of Elizabethton, Tenn., and Ethan Fields (fiancée Abbey Smithers) of Knoxville, Tenn.; great-grandchildren, Jackson Goines, Walker Honeycutt and Ellison Cook; sister, Retha Williams; brothers, Walt Richardson, Jimmy Richardson and Delmer Richardson; and many nieces and nephews.  

A graveside service will be conducted at Happy Valley Memorial Park on Saturday, September 21, at 2:30 p.m. with Mr. Caleb McDonald, minister, officiating. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Saturday to go in procession to the cemetery. Words of sympathy may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.hathawaypercy.com.

Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services is honored to serve the Fields family. Office Phone: (423) 543-5544.