Mary Alice Hegarty

PHOENIX -- Mary Alice Hegarty nee Hayden, loving and cherished wife and mother, died peacefully early Monday morning in a dementia-care facility in Phoenix of complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Age 84. Wife of 56 years to her adoring husband, Paul W. Hegarty. Mother of five ludicrously energetic but obedient sons. Born in Evansville, Indiana; second of nine children: five sisters, three brothers. Proud resident of Phoenix since 1977. Lover of great books and clever writing; favorite authors Irving, McMurtry, French, and Harrison. Passionate about words; skilled cruciverbalist; savage Scrabble player who held grudges. If “it is what it is,” you’re saying nothing. Adored ribald jokes and obscene anecdotes but hid that, often ineffectually. Prolific inventor of non-curse words. Possessed infectious, meritorious laugh, her head thrown back. Lover of the Phoenix Suns, particularly Nash. Had a platonic crush on Al McCoy. Hater of the Lakers and other earthly tools of the devil. Disinterested in house pets, but successfully tamed five fully feral human animals. Lover of the Boss, Joshua Bell, and the Stones, especially the early stuff. Friend to all, except jerks. Welcoming to guests and grandkids, but please clean up after yourself. To be frank, inept horticulturalist, made a mediocre meatloaf. Claimed to have invented the Singapore Sling. Treasured volunteer at Crisis Nursery and local library. Begrudging chauffeur and therefore vigorous biking advocate. Despite what you may have heard, never worked as roller-skate carhop. Competent athlete, played tennis into her 70s, could do a yoga handstand at 75, taught a son how to slide into home plate, semi-accurate at lay-ups. Enjoyed the outdoors, sun-splashed winter hikes in Phoenix’s nature reserves, afternoons on a shady porch with a tattered hard-cover and lemony iced tea. Considered Flagstaff a second home, perhaps a second heaven. Offered love and kindness under the belief she would then be surrounded by it. More often than not she was. Will be cherished and lovingly remembered by all who knew her until the end times. Tragically pre-deceased by son Dr. Brian. Survived by husband Paul W.; sons Paul R., Michael, Matthew, and Timothy; grandkids Jackson, Azacca, Dawson, Juniper, Rosemarie, Ivy. 

Services to be held Friday, November 8th at 2:30 PM at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, donations can be made to the Dementia Care and Education Campus of Hospice of the Valley. Or buy yourself a good book.