Kim Longley Roberts
Mary was my first playmate. I lived across the alley from the Sprunk family—they called me 51/2, because they had five daughters at the time—and I was always at their house. I remember jumping on their beds, watching “I Love Lucy” on black and white TV, and riding wild on our bikes, up and down the alley. We played detectives a la “Seventy-Seven, Sunset Strip”. Mary always played Suzanne, the beautiful secretary. I think I played Kookie–or maybe Theresa did. It was a time of childhood freedom, simplicity and fun.
My sadness at Mary’s passing is profound and unexpected, since we had not seen each other in 50 years. But my fond memories of our friendship have remained. She was my beautiful friend and I know she will be missed by all who knew her.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory, and may light perpetual shine upon her.