Mary Dailey

Mary Dailey, 87, passed away Tuesday, January 28th.  She was born October 22, 1937, to BH and Mable Clardy in Bucklin, MO.

Before getting married Mary worked around the Moberly area, including Woolworth’s and the 4th Street Theater. In December, 1956 she married Richard Dailey, of Moberly, while he was home on leave, and they returned to Orange, TX, and she was the homemaker while he did is tour of duty there, returning to Moberly in January 1959. They raised 3 girls, Rebecca, Carolyn and Jean.

 In February of 1975 Richard opened their first store Briggs and Dailey Southtown IGA on South Morley Street, where Mary supported her husband and went to work in the meat department. As the business grew, and they added a second store, Mary then moved to the new location and became the manager of the bakery department, where she was recognized as one of the top bakeries in the IGA organization. As the grandchildren started to come along, she retired from working at the store to help care for the grandchildren.

The selling of the store in 1988, saw a move to Independence, MO and Mary remained a homemaker and helping with the grandchildren there. They lived there until Richard’s retirement and their return to Moberly in 1998. They purchased a small modest house and stayed there 25 years.

Mary lost Richard only a short time ago, December 7, 2024. She is survived by their daughters, Becky, (Dennis) Johannaber of Huntsville, Carolyn, (Russ) Barnett of Grain Valley, MO, and Jeannie, (Frank) Miller of Huntsville. Ten grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. One brother Bob, (Ada) Clardy of Moberly, Sister-in-law Linda Clardy of Excello, and brother-in-law Roger (Bonnie) Dailey of the state of Oklahoma.  

She was proceeded in death by her parents, sisters, Alice Sipe and Betty Habeck, brothers James Clardy, and Ted Clardy, a sister-in-law Marie Smith and granddaughter Kari Ann Johannaber.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Mary’s memory to Clarence Care Center or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, St. Louis.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation held at the Cater Funeral Home Chapel followed by funeral services honoring and celebrating Mary’s life.  Committal prayer and burial took place at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery,  Jacksonville, Mo.