Name: Calling hours for Mary Ann Phelan
Start: 2019-09-14T13:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-09-14T15:00:00.000Z
Location: St. Augustine Home for the Aged

Mary Ann Phelan

Indianapolis - Mary Ann (Fuller) Byrum Phelan was called home to God after a long battle with metastatic melanoma. *Mary Ann believed life was an adventure to live, and she lived it.* She was born in Minneapolis, MN to Charles LeRoy and Susan (Riley) Fuller. Her childhood Minnesota friends helped her through struggles in life even though they were not aware of it. In 1954 she moved to Broad Ripple, Indiana. She met the love of her life, Jack Phelan in 1965. Once married they moved to Carmel and opened a music store that is still operating, bought a new home and welcomed a baby. Mary Ann was a ham radio operator under license number WB9CUS. She cared for Dr. Jack Leer's grey wolf packs for many years. She was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and dog rescuer. Mary Ann grew up as a dancer and later became a professional clown known as Feathers. She enjoyed entertaining the old and young. She had a lifelong interest in Native American culture and was given the Indian name "Dancing Feather". She owned and showed Arabian horses. Mary Ann was an avid tent camper and loved being outdoors. She once cruised 51 countries over a four month period on the Radisson Voyeur of the Seas cruise ship. This voyage was a highlight of her life and an incredible learning experience. She worked 20 years for the law firm of Locke, Reynolds, Boyd and Weisell in Indianapolis.

Mary Ann wanted to add a quote, "P.S. God blessed me with three of the most incredible, compassionate, creative, outstanding, caring, giving and loving daughters in the world."

She is survived not only by her three daughters, 1 daughter in law, 5 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, but also the many special friends she helped along their paths who found comfort and support in her home and in her heart and the countless animals she shared her love and compassion with.

Funeral services are 11am Saturday, September 14, 2019 at St. Augustine Home for the Aged, 2345 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260. Friends may call on the family from 9am until the time of services in the chapel. Online condolences may be offered at usherfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Indianapolis Star from Aug. 30 to Sep. 1, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary Phelan

10 Entries

October 18, 2019

Hi, Girls.
I am so, so sorry to hear about your mom! She was such a wonderful person! She had such a good sense of humor and loved to laugh and was so much fun to be with.
My husband and myself started visiting Jack Lear in 1992. We fell in love with his wolves and also with Jack. We visited Jack and his wolves for a whole year until he had another litter of wolf pups at which time, he asked if we would like the litter for ourselves. Of course, we said yes! We ended up with nine wolves of two litters.
We loved them so dearly and were with them every day. We were part of their pack. When Jack died we helped out with his wolves for a while. Then, your mom and Phyllis took over taking care of them, although we still went out to visit them occasionally. That's how we met your mom-through the wolves. She came over to see our guys a lot and even sent out Christmas cards with our guys on the front with her. She loved them and they loved her
( especially Cherokee and Sol-Leks )
I am so sorry that I didn't know about her passing away sooner. My sympathy and prayers are with you. She will be greatly missed! Love, Julie Lemke OK

Sr Lourdes and Lourdes Mediavilla

September 16, 2019

Kim and family may God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Mary Ann Loved Life and Nature to the Fullest.

Vangie Vescovi

September 13, 2019

A nice vibrant lady.

A wonderful memory.

Susan Phelan

September 4, 2019

I have so many wonderful memories. Thank you for being such an amazing mother. I am so sad you're gone, but I know you will always live on in my heart. You're a special woman.

Our beautiful Mother

Susan Phelan

September 4, 2019

Mom was always so colorful

Susan Phelan

September 4, 2019

Forever Dear Arrangement- BASKET INCLUDED

a loved one

Sent Flowers

Verneda Arnold

September 1, 2019

My family lived a couple doors down from Jack, Mary Ann & Kimberly on McPherson Street off of 106th Street many years ago after they had started their music store in Carmel on Main Street. She was such a lovely, friendly neighbor. We visited her a few times after they moved to their new home off of Shadeland Avenue near Community North. Unfortunately, I lost touch with her many years later.

You all are in my family's thoughts and prayers.