Mary Kim Green, surrounded by her loved ones, peacefully went home to be with her Lord March 3, 2015 in Bryan, TX. She was 87. Mary was born on July 7, 1927 in Waialua, Hawaii to her father, Cho Wah Kim and mother, Soon Duck Park. Her parents left Korea in the early 1900’s to make a better life for their family.

Mary is the seventh of eight children who as a young child worked along with her parents and siblings in the pineapple fields for Dole Pineapple. It was exhaustive, back breaking work, but gave Mary the inner strength and determination that she instilled in her children and maintained until the very end. Losing her mother early in life, Mary assumed all the responsibilities of caring for her family but yearned for the mother she recalled as a beautiful loving women who was always singing. On December 7, 1941 while hanging clothes, she witnessed the Japanese Zeros planes fly toward Pearl Harbor, never imagining what was about to unfold. Like many others, her family remained hidden for some time in their blackened out windowed homes. She spoke of the experience only a few times never dwelling on or acknowledging her profound courage and connection to one of the most important historical events in U.S. history.

Encouraged by a friend to go on a blind date, Mary met a very handsome, charismatic U.S. Army soldier, William Howell Green, who was stationed in Hawaii for a brief tour of duty. He swept her off her feet, literally, as they loved dancing throughout their courtship. In 1958, they married beginning a new life together, starting a family and traveling throughout the continental United States making a home at various military instillations where Sgt. Green was stationed. During this time, Mary also served her country in civil service for the Army in the Department of Housing where she placed many soldiers and their families who were having to relocate usually every two years. She loved her job and continued her service for 35 years before retiring at Fort Hood in Killeen, TX.

Mary Green was full of life and known for her animated, contagious laughter. She loved to sing and dance, humming a tune every chance she could get. She was also an avid bowler participating in league play and a determined bingo player where her luck sometimes manifested a lucrative payoff, which she generously shared with her children. Mary was the quintessential maniacal sports fan loving all sports and looking beyond the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” to a deep appreciation for the effort, skill and discipline demonstrated by each player and their team as a whole. She knew everything about the rules, players statistics and could converse with anyone about any aspect of the sport taking aback many a listener, especially coming from this demure Asian women. Mary was especially passionate about baseball and golf, a love she shared with her husband, Bill and son, Ed.   She and Bill spent many nights watching the Atlanta Braves on cable. She continued to follow sports up to the very end.

Mary was a deeply dedicated and supportive wife and mother who always put her family’s needs above her own. By example, she taught her children about selfless service, silent suffering and grace. In all aspects of her life, Mary was loving and accepting of all people regardless of their circumstances. A gift she passed on to her family.

After her retirement from Civil Service, Mary served many years as a volunteer for Seton Hospital in Austin and St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bryan where she expressed her love and faith in God being baptized in 2005. She was also a member of the Neighborly Sunday School Class.

Ms. Green is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Colleen and Mike Holmes of Bryan, TX; another daughter, Marianne Green of Houston, TX; 4 grandchildren, Brandon Holmes, Heather Holmes Siegrist , Brennan Green and Cyrus Twaddle and 2 great-grandchildren, Kadence and Kielee Holmes. She is preceded in death by her husband William, and her son, Edward Manning Green.

A memorial service celebrating her life will take place on Saturday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Bryan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Mary’s memory to the First United Methodist Church Music Ministry or Hospice of the Brazos Valley.

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