Mary Brock Fulmer

Mary Stayton Brock Fulmer passed away in her home on August 24, 2015, at the age of 96, after a long and happy life.  She was born on January 23, 1919, to Bernie Washburn Stayton and Neva Ray Stayton, in Donnybrook, North Dakota, and traveled with her mother and professional Boy Scout father as he established Boy Scout councils and troops around the country, and, as a result, experienced an adventurous childhood unlike  many girls of her generation.

She is survived by a family fortunate to know her as mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt: her four daughters, Katherine Lewis Brock of Atlanta, Georgia, Mary Elizabeth Brock and Rebecca Brock Pope (Daniel Ball Pope, Jr.), both of Parrish, Florida, and Martha Morgan Brock of Atlanta, Georgia; five grandchildren, James Christopher Brock Pope, Jesse Alan Briggs Brock, Eleanor Stayton Pope, Sarah Kathryn Pope Lind, Morgan Elizabeth Pope Hodgkins; and seven great-grandchildren,  Sierra Raynn Shoemaker, Emma Gunn Brock, Mason Alec Lind, Romana Marie Lind, Robert Edward Daniel Pope, Jackson James Brock and Sidney Jane Lind; and many beloved nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by both parents, husbands Edward Palmer Fulmer and James Christopher Brock; brothers James Edgar Stayton, Dale Washburn Stayton, and Bernie Wayne Stayton, and sister Sally Cecilia Stayton Seward; brother- and sister-in-law, Hiram Montgomery Brock, Jr. and Eula Nunnery Brock; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Ruth Brock Langer and Rudolph Langer, Rose Brock Fortney  and Guy Fortney; and dear friend and help-meet Ada Halcomb.

Mrs. Fulmer served as a teacher in the Harlan City Independent School District from 1949 until 1975 and the Fayette County School System from 1975 until 1983.  She is best known among her students as being “the best math teacher they ever had,” as she taught algebra and geometry recounting the old Indian legend of SOH-CAH-TOA.  She taught many Harlan children swimming, either at Camp O’ Cumberlands, where she was waterfront director, or at the Harlan City Pool.  She led the Harlan school’s craft club for many years, and opened her own ceramic “shop” called The Well House, named after the well that had supplied water for the residence on Ivy Hill in the years before “city water.”  Many ladies of her generation spent day after day painting ceramics with Mary.  After moving to Florida in 1983, she began scuba diving while continuing her love of swimming, and at the age of 68, Mary traveled to Australia to compete in an international Masters swim competition, and with her relay team, won two gold medals and set two world records.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held in Harlan 1:00 pm Friday Nov. 27, 2015 at the Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home.

For those who wish, donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to the Girl Scouts of the USA, Fund Development, P.O. Box 5046, New York, NY 10087-5046.