Mary Elizabeth Fields' Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Schade Fields passed away peacefully on February 11, 2026, in Germantown, Tennessee. She was born on June 15, 1933, in Denver, Colorado, to George Edward Schade and Ora Adehlia Hatton Schade.
Mary’s father, graduate of the United States Naval Academy (1926), was a submariner during World War II; and as a result Mary’s early years found her in Denver and Golden, Colorado; Bar Harbor, Maine; Jacksonville, Pensacola, and St. Petersburg, Florida; New London, Connecticut; and back to Golden, Colorado, where her father taught and studied physics at the Colorado School of Mines. After graduating from high school, she attended Colorado State University where she met her husband, Jack. Their first date ended up at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ft. Collins, Colorado; and she and Jack were married at Calvary Episcopal Church in Golden, Colorado, one year later.
She and her husband were active in the church ministry their entire married lives, with Jack being ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1998. Mary received her Bachelor of Arts in 1986 from Boise State University, with an emphasis in elementary education. Mary loved encouraging children in learning. While living in Weiser, she had piano students, taught kindergarten at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and provided certified day care for many families. After moving to Germantown, Tennessee in 2015, she was a volunteer for the Team Read ministry through St. George’s Episcopal Church.
After marriage in 1952, band director positions for Jack took Mary and family to Kansas, California, Wyoming (Mountain View, Thermopolis), Idaho (Weiser, Homedale, Midvale). Their final move together was to Tonopah, Nevada, where Jack was a school counselor.
Mary considered Weiser (1962 to 1988), Tonopah (1988 to 2015), and Germantown (2015 to 2026) to be her church homes. In Weiser and Tonopah, she was also active in Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron from 2003 to 2004.
Music was a satisfying pursuit for Mary. She had her first piano lesson at age five from Maude Vivian, a retired professor of music from the University of Michigan. She also took piano instruction from Wendel Diebel at Colorado State University. She was an active organist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Weiser and at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Tonopah, Nevada. She enjoyed singing in musicals and church choirs and loved to attend live shows, including band, orchestra, organ recitals, vocal recitals, choirs, musicals, and opera. She was a steady, and dependable alto in St. George’s Episcopal Church’s Coventry Choir and with the Exultemus Praise Band in Germantown, TN, where she continued singing until quite recently with the gracious assistance of her choir partner, Joy Wilson.
Mary was active in Christian education through the years, acting as the leader for an ecumenical Sunday school consisting of Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal youth in Weiser, Idaho. She continued Bible and book studies through the years individually and in support of Jack’s ministry in Tonopah, Nevada. She participated in book and Bible studies at St. George’s, always, she was known for her gracious and charitable insights.
Mary was an active member of Daughters of the King at St. George’s Episcopal Church. She was a prayer warrior. During the summer months she would pray for each of her extended family members as she “swam” laps in her pool. She was diligent in praying for those on the St. George’s prayer list.
Mary was a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was known for her handmade blankets for babies and quilted bedspreads and potholders. Her memory will bring inspiration and joy to the hearts of those who knew her as they continue their religious and musical pursuits. Mary’s life was a testimony to Christian compassion, charity, and caring.
Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rev. J Burford (Jack) Fields, Jr.; sons, J Burford (Jay) Fields, III, and Walter David Fields; her parents George and Ora Schade; and her brother Edward John Schade.
She is survived by sons–John Edward Fields, Thomas George Fields (Eileen), Wesley Paul Fields (Cammy); her sister Ora Schade Shay (Jim); and sister-in-law Judy Schade (wife of Edward). She also is blessed and was a cheerful supporter of her nine grandchildren: John Fields, Jean Fields Bazor (Daniel), Allyson Fields MacCauley (Michael), David Fields (Ashley), Jeremy Fields (Caitlin), Matt Fields (Allison), Benjamin Fields (Natalia), Sam Fields, and Clara Fields; and her seven great-grandchildren: Sean, Elijah, Kinsley, Karsten, June, Elliott and Ethan. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews in the Schade and Shay families.
Services will be at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 2425 S. Germantown Road, Germantown, Tennessee, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment next to her husband, Jack, will be in the Tonopah, Nevada cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the music program at St. George’s Episcopal Church or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930.
“Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.”
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