Mary Wardle Black

Mary Wardle Black died on Friday morning 5 December. Born in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan, Mary had a kind, patient, and positive disposition. In her childhood, she loved visiting the beaches and parks on Lake St Clair in Grosse Point with her friends. One of her favourite memories from her youth was seeing Elvis Presley in the front row at the Fox Theater in Detroit in 1956. She also fondly reminisced about a high school trip she took in 1957, during which she toured many national parks, including Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion. It was during this trip when she visited California for the first time. In 1961, after receiving her Bachelors degree in Business at Western Michigan University, Mary moved to California, fulfilling a lifelong dream. In 1964 she married the love of her life, Jerry Black, to whom she was married for nearly forty years, until his untimely death in 2004. They had a son, Brian, in 1970.

Mary forged a career out of her many artistic talents. In the 1960s, while living in San Francisco, she taught decoupage for many years. After moving to Marin in the early 1970s, Mary started working at Ross Valley Gardens in Larkspur, which would later become Sloat Garden Center. She became known locally for her beautiful flower arrangements, particularly her hanging baskets. In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Mary ran her own business making flower arrangements for weddings and other large events. Many women who were brides or bridesmaids in Marin in the 1990s will remember her beautiful bridal bouquets. She also was a very talented painter. 

Throughout her life, Mary loved to travel. In 1969, together with her husband Jerry, she trekked across Europe in a VW camper. For her 50th birthday, in 1988, she and Jerry went on safari in Kenya. She also travelled to India, Japan, and Cuba. Later in her life, she enjoyed visiting her family in England. Mary will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all of the people whose lives she touched. She is survived by her son Brian, her daughter-in-law Yulia, and her grandchildren, Harrison and Sonya. Donations can be made to the Marin Agricultural Land Trust or a charity of choice.

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