Mary Fink

MARILYN DALY "MARY" FINK

October 27, 1934 - September 12, 2025

Marilyn Daly Fink, always known as "Mary" to her friends, "Aunt Mary" to her nieces and nephews and "Grammy" to her 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, was born Marilyn Nell Jones, October 27, 1934 in Amarillo, Texas. Her father, Charles E. "Buddy" Jones, died of illness in 1940 when Mary was 6 years old. Her mother, Nell Maurice Warren Jones, Mary and younger sister Gwendolyn Sue Jones were extremely close knit. Mary and Gwen made a lot of fond memories with their paternal grandmother Myrtle Day Jones, cooking and singing in her kitchen. Nell remarried Eugene Daniel Daly in 1946 and Mary and Gwen were adopted by their step-father and moved from Amarillo to Petersburg, Virginia along with their new baby brother, Michael Daly, and eventually to Charlotte, North Carolina. Mary graduated from Charlotte High school at 16 and attended Greensboro Women's College briefly. At 20 she entered nurse's training at Charlotte Memorial Hospital School of Nursing through Charlotte College and received her Registered Nurse designation. She achieved the highest score on her Nursing Boards for the school at that time.

Mary met Carl James Fink in January of 1957 at a community dance in Charlotte. Carl had served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant and was now working for IBM in sales. They fell head over heels in love, were engaged at Easter, and married June 29, 1957. They moved into their new home in Charlotte and the following year welcomed their first child, Karen Elizabeth Fink (Santaella), joined 14 months later by Allison Elaine Fink (Summersett) and 5 years later by Stuart Carl Fink. The family moved to Austin in 1969 when Carl was promoted to Product Planning for IBM. Mary nurtured her family but always found time to serve others. She had a heart for public service and was awarded a Life Member status for organizing the Doss Elementary and L.C. Anderson High School P.T.As. She was a devoted leader of Girl Scout troop 32 for 5 years and served on the Greater Austin Girl Scout Council Board. Mary was a Bible teacher at Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte and at Highland Park Baptist Church and Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas where she taught the oldest ladies in the church. Later, she served in the Senior Adult Ministry of First Baptist Church, Georgetown, Texas and as an instructor for Emotional Freedom Therapy. After raising her family, Mary had a second career for ten years as a highly successful Real Estate Broker in Austin with Gene Spence & Associates and Amelia Bullock.

One of the hallmarks of Mary's life was her insatiable love of learning. She read voraciously and widely. She examined thoughts and ideas. Her vocabulary was elevated and exciting but never pretentious. She was energized by words and finding the right one to express herself gave her tremendous joy! The week before she passed she still wanted to look up new words she had written down. She was an avid student of improving her mind through crosswords, puzzles and games - particularly bridge. Another hallmark of Mary's life was her indomitable spirit and willingness to accept new challenges. She readily embraced learning new skills from quilt making, to Bobbin Lacemaking, computer skills and technology. She wanted to KNOW how things worked. She always wanted to know "The Reason Why".

Mary had an excellent spirit. She worked to meet any challenge she faced and embraced every undertaking with a determination to do her very best. She had very high standards in every area of her life which inspired others around her. This unconquerable, indefatigable spirit she passed to her children and grandchildren. She loved to laugh and her laugh was infectious - always putting others at ease. She often took notice of how others were doing and if they needed a helping hand. At CC Young she was an Ambassador, helping new residents feel comfortable in their new homes, taught exercise class as a substitute teacher and was a member of the Resident's Council. She loved being involved in all aspects of life at CC Young and particularly enjoyed spearheading the Movie Afternoon and other initiatives to make life better for everyone around her. Most of all, Mary loved Jesus with all her heart and soul. She became a Christian at age 40 and never looked back. Her life has been a continual quest to love Him more and to model His love. Mary was beloved by all her family, her friends, residents, nurses and staff. We can almost hear our Lord saying "Well done - thou good and faithful servant!"

Mary is survived by her sister, Gwen Potter (Ken), children Karen Heald Santaella (Manuel), Allison Fink Summersett (Jim), Stuart Carl Fink (Vicki), grandchildren Christopher M. Heald (spouse Bryanne, children Logan, Eli and Austin), James A. Summersett (spouse Lauren, children Emmy, Austin and Quinn), Audrey Heald Puttemans (spouse Vincent, children Elizabeth and Pieter), Anna Summersett Varghese (spouse Benson, children Knox, Wells and Case), Tyler R. Heald (Spouse Emily, children Asher and Dean), Andrew B. Summersett (spouse Lauren, children Haven, Monroe and Sloane), Ellyn Elizabeth Heald engaged to Mr. Martin Kemp, Samantha Fink Taveras (spouse Marcos, children Genevieve and Clint), Catherine Fink, Jackson B. Fink (Karlee), Haakon D. Santaella, Karsten J. Santaella and Thoren B. Santaella, Martha and Lawrence L. Fink (sister-in-law and brother-in-law). Mary's brother Michael Daly predeceased her.

Mary's remains will be interred alongside those of her husband, Carl J. Fink, at the Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Mary had asked for people to please consider donating to The Samaritan's Purse or Salvation Army.