Mary Frances (Hill) Ackley |
| Posted 2022-01-11 by Sharla |
| Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory, Wickenburg, AZ Mary F. Ackley March 27, 1923 - January 9, 2022 On January 9, 2022, Mary F. Ackley passed away peacefully in her sleep. Mary Frances Hill was born in Humboldt, AZ March 27, 1923. She lived in Mayer, AZ and then Los Angeles, CA where she finished high school at John C. Fremont in 1941. Mary then moved to Wickenburg, AZ where she met Brian Harrington and married in 1943. The Harringtons owned Brian’s Grocery. They had three children: Lorraine, Joan and Michael, Brian passed away in 1964. Mary married Glen Ackley in 1966. After closing the grocery store, Mary was instrumental in bringing to Wickenburg the Maricopa County Community Action Program, the Wise Owl Center and the Mary F. Ackley R&R Respite Center. Mary is preceded in death by her parents Myron and Roma Hill; Brian Harrington; Glen Ackley; daughter Lorraine Harrington Martin; and son-in-law Cole Martin, Sr. She is survived by Joan Harrington Pollay (Joe); Michael Harrington (Michelle); step-children Tom Ackley (Loretta); Ted Ackley (Cindy); 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Due to COVID, services will be private. ~~~~~~~~~ The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ January 12, 2022 By Amber Neate Sun Reporter Mary F. Ackley passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday at the age of 98. Having lived in Wickenburg for close to 80 years, Ackley left a profound impact on the Wickenburg community through her charitable work and desire for helping others. Her compassion and persistence helped lead to the development of the Maricopa County Community Action Program, The Wise Owl Senior Center and the R&R Respite Center. At age 14, Ackley took care of her ill mother until her passing and continued to extend her loving care toward others throughout her life. Prior to her involvement in social services, she and her first husband Brian Harrington owned Brian’s Grocery where they often made and distributed free sandwiches to needy families in Wickenburg, according to her daughter Joan Pollay. “Mom started the Community Action Program and The Wise Owl, where they feed the seniors,” Pollay said. “After she retired, she went back to start R&R Respite, which was a service that helped take care of elderly people for a day to give their care takers a break.” According to Pollay, Ackley was a strict mother and would often say, "Do as I say, not as I do." She loved Wickenburg and gave it her all. Pollay said her mother’s joy for social work was encouraged by Maddy Woody, an Aguila resident who was involved in the Aguila Community Action Program. At the time, Wickenburg did not have a Community Action Program, so Ackley took the necessary steps to get one running. “She was bound and determined.” Pollay said. “She wrote up and kept binders about the history, how it all started and the original purpose of the corporation so that no one would lose sight of what it was all about. She was on the (Wickenburg Community Services Corporation) board of directors up until one year ago. She just loved helping people.” Through her involvement with the Community Action Program, Ackley assisted in the summer programs, helped make and distribute Christmas baskets, and helped conduct clothing drives and food drives as well as many other projects. “There were countless community things that she did long before the Wise Owl Senior Center and R&R Respite were created,” her son Michael and his wife Michelle Harrington said. “It was her passion. She was pivotal in bringing social services to the town. She was a silent hero.” During her life, Ackley received the Henry Wickenburg Award along with several other awards and recognitions for her outstanding community efforts. She retired from Maricopa County when she was 65-years-old, then went on to work again and had a second retirement when she was in her 80s. Throughout her entire adult life, she was devoted to helping the town of Wickenburg and its people. Her obituary appears on page A-5. See Also: Find A Grave |
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