Mary Maple Schroeder, 68, of New Bern, North Carolina and recently of Gulf Shores, Alabama passed away on March 31, 2022, after a brief but difficult battle with stomach cancer.
Mary was born July 17, 1953, in Haleyville, Alabama to William Robert Maple (Bob), and Doris Brinson Maple (Dottie). After graduating from T.R Miller High School, she attended and received her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Speech Communication at Auburn University. Upon graduation, Mary took a speech pathology position in Mobile, Alabama with the Mobile Infirmary. It was during her time in Mobile she met Don, the love of her life, whom she married on April 9, 1983. It was a union of mated- souls and love.
Several months after their marriage they moved to Louisville, Kentucky where Don continued his career in television news and Mary quickly formed a circle of friends for a lifetime. In February 1985 they welcomed Mary’s lifetime dream, a baby girl, Elizabeth Courtney (Betsy). Louisville was kind to them. Mary thrived with 25 years of Derby parties, often having 15 to 20 people staying in the house where they enjoyed a whirlwind of horse racing, food and drink, grand friendship and most of all enjoyed Mary’s incredible cooking and the party loving atmosphere she created.
Mary enjoyed working in real estate in Louisville, working with her dear friends at Charlotte’s Web, and chasing after her daughter Betsy as she entertained her parents with a high school and college volleyball career.
It was during this time in Louisville Mary and Don would make monthly trips to the Gulf Coast to spend weekends with Don’s three children, Alex, Carrie, and Ingrid. Many days and nights were spent traveling on I-65, and Mary cherished the end result, playing and creating fun cook outs with all four kids.
Upon Don’s retirement in 2008, Mary and Don moved to their house on the Bon Secour River in south Alabama and later living in Gulf Shores. Fun times on the beaches, fishing the river, playing with grandkids, dinners with great friends; she and Don had the best of times.
Moving to New Bern in 2021 brought her closer to Betsy’s children, Emma and Evie, and Carrie’s children, Ava and Will. She had so enjoyed Ingrid’s three boys, JB, Charlie and Ben, growing up in Pensacola. Reliving those times by moving closer to little Emma and Evie was her goal.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, Bob and Dottie. She is survived by a list of love. Daughter Betsy Alafoginis (George) in Vienna, Va., stepson Alex Schroeder (Jessica) in Surf City, NC, stepdaughter Carrie Simmons (Kyle) in Pinehurst, NC, stepdaughter Ingrid Hewette (James) in Gulf Breeze, FL. Her cherished grandchildren, granddaughters Ava Simmons, and Emma and Evie Alafoginis. Grandsons Staff Sergeant Sid Schroeder, U.S. Army, JB, Charlie and Ben Hewette, and Will Simmons. Also survived by brother Bobby Maple (Diane) in Bridgeton, NC and Betty Gomez (Sergio) and niece Amanda in Charlotte, NC. Her dearest friends, Debbie Stuart and Tammy Joslyn were also in her heart.
The family will have a private viewing at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern.
Mary would like memorials to be given to Ecumenical Ministries, 102 W. Spruce Ave., Foley, Alabama 36535 where she volunteered for many years. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com
