Mary Myrtle (Schaeufele) Guarnieri

Mary Myrtle Guarnieri, 98, passed away on July 21, 2023, at her home in Upatoi, GA.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, August 1, 2023 in the chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907, with Dr. Kevin Calhoun officiating. Visitation will be held following the service. A private interment will be held at Ft. Benning/Moore Main Post Cemetery.

Mary was born August 15, 1924, the first child of the late Myrtle Irene and Army Captain John George Schaeufele at their home in Junction City, KS. She grew up in Ft. Riley, KS and later, Ft. Knox, KY. Mary graduated from Ft. Knox High School, then studied and served as an Army Nurse’s Aide for two years caring for wounded soldiers during WWII.

Living in Kentucky, Mary attended the Kentucky Derby and continued enjoying the Derby throughout her life. She had an uncanny knack for often picking the winners. Like many from her era, the music of Glenn Miller’s Orchestra and other artists from that time remained her favorites. In her younger years Mary was an excellent tennis player, golfer, and horseback rider.

Mary met and married Army Lieutenant Charles Augustus “Deak” Deakin. They had one daughter, Connie, before Deak’s untimely death training troops at Ft. Meade, MD. Five years later, Mary met and married Army Captain David Charles Guarnieri at Ft. Knox, KY. Mary had three more daughters as they all continued to move to various Army posts throughout the United States.

In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, Mary served as Secretary to the Vermont Insurance Commissioner in Montpellier, VT; Social Director of the Officer’s Club in Ft. Knox, KY; and Real Estate Agent for French and Whitten in Columbus, GA.  She was a long-time member of DUSA (Daughters of the United States Army) and lifetime member of the United States Cavalry Association. Mary was an avid reader, particularly biographies and she always enjoyed playing Scrabble with her family.

Other than her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her husband, David Charles Guarnieri; daughter, Constance Lee Mirski; sister, Virginia Marie Richeson; brothers, John George Schaeufele III and Bennett Keith Schaeufele.

She is survived by daughters, Victoria Speakman (Steve) of Seminole, AL; Elizabeth Hart (Frank) of Columbia, SC; Helen Guarnieri of Columbus, GA; son-in-law Mark Mirski of Greenwood, ME; grandchildren, Kassia Deakin Mirski, David Guarnieri Speakman, Walker Rourke Guarnieri; great granddaughter Niko Mirski Gray; sister-in-law, Martha Schaeufele of Bowling Green, KY; and many precious nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to Columbus Hospice for their professional and quality care.