Mary Elizabeth (Walker) Niday

Mary Elizabeth Walker Niday, formerly of Gallipolis, died July 28, 2020, in Granville, Ohio, following a diagnosis of COVID-19.  The daughter of Jackson Tandy and Zelma Phillips Walker, Mary was born at Cora, Ohio on November 26, 1935.  Her loving parents and her supportive community remained a source of pride throughout her life.  Mary met her husband, Victor Joe Niday, when they were both 4-H advisors.  They were married April 22, 1962, and they enjoyed 58 loving years together, 57 of those living on the Niday Dairy Farm near Northup. 

Mary is survived by her husband, children Cynthia Melaine and husband Michael Menzer of Granville and Victor Richard Niday of Mount Sterling, grandsons Zachary Menzer and Drew Menzer and wife Rachel, and two great-grandchildren James and Katherine Menzer, all of whom she championed and adored.  She is also survived by two sisters from their close-knit family, Marcella Harrison Gilliam and Karen McElyea, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Paul Dean and Jean Niday, two friends Ruth Ann and Carol, and her nieces and nephews: Iris, Lili, Rick, Gary, Mark, Marlene, Christine, Patti, Kim, Lynne, and Gwynne as well as their spouses, children, and grandchildren.  Her nieces and nephews were like children to her before she had her own.   In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her sisters Orva Heissenbuttel and Etta Altizer, brother Jackson Tandy Walker, Jr., brothers-in-law William Heissenbuttel, David Altizer, Marion Jack Harrison, John Gilliam, James McElyea, and Charles Bibler, and sisters-in-law Martha Ann Niday Bibler, and Kathryn Kay Niday.

Mary enjoyed every place she ever worked:  the Sears store where she worked when she moved to Dayton as a young woman, and then upon her return to Gallipolis: Production Credit Association, The Gallipolis State Institute, Green Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School. She also loved being a wife and mother, and especially grandmother and great-grandmother. In whatever role she undertook, Mary brought creativity and vision to the task at hand.  Her passions were planning events, family history, keeping a diary, and making a photographic record of barns, events, and people.

Mary had two requests. She wanted it proudly listed in her obituary that she was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, a place that was dear to her and which she considered her most important association. The second request was that she wanted all her family and friends to gather to reminisce while looking at her photo albums.  Please join the family, Saturday, August 13th, 2022 at the pavilion at the French Art Colony, 530 1st Ave, Gallipolis, OH at an open house from 1:30 PM – 4:00PM to celebrate Mary’s life.  Private interment will be in the Centenary Cemetery. The Cremeens-King Funeral Home is entrusted with the arraignments.

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