Mary Garland

Mary Garland, age 87, of Bel Air, Maryland passed away on May 9, 2021 at Avondell Assisted Living in Bel Air, Maryland. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Endler) Ruff. She traveled to China, France, England, Barbados, Bermuda, Ireland and throughout the U.S. She liked gardening, although she was not a great gardener and once mistook weed killer for bug repellent and killed off the entire garden. She was an awesome baker and baked something almost every day when her children were young. She loved all living creatures, especially box turtles which lived in her back yard for years and knew when it was feeding time. She was on the synchronized swimming state championship team and made sure all 5 children knew how to swim. She also loved ice skating and went skating every Saturday morning at the old Memorial Stadium and made annual ski trips with friends. Her grandchildren remember their time with her as one of creativity and sweetness. They learned to always carry dental floss in case you want to go fishing, how to make s'mores over the stove, and that powder sugar belonged on the breakfast table. She taught them to care for all animals, especially the countless tortoises that took up residence in her backyard. In her later years, she loved hearing about their dating lives and was quick to give her opinion on matters.

Mary is survived by her daughters, M. Teresa Garland, Jeanne Marie Garland and Catherine Garland; son, John Garland; daughter-in-law, Laurel Garland; sons-in-law, Craig Ward and Greg Meyers; granddaughters, Lily Garland Coleman (Scott) and Julia Garland Benjamin; grandsons, Ethan Meyers, James Garland and Adam Yates Ward (Carey); great-grandson, Frederick Yates Ward, II; great-granddaughter, Josephine Marie Ward; and friends, Ginger Suchy, Eileen Dugan, Miriam Dunbar, Barbara and Ed Wonderer.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Thomas A. Garland, Jr. and brothers, John Ruff and Louis Ruff.

Contributions may be made to Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation 520 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Suite 405, Bel Air, MD, 21014.