On February 20, 2023, Mary Charles Fadell Kyle closed her eyes in the home she loved so dearly and awoke in the presence of the Lord. Born on September 29, 1932 as the only child of Bernice and Charles Fadell, Mary Charles entered the kingdom of heaven at 90 years old, finally healed and whole in the arms of Jesus. She was met there by her husband of 65 years, Jack D. Kyle. Celebrating their heavenly union are her daughters, Debbie and Kathy, their husbands, Bobby and Steve, her six grandchildren, their spouses, and her great grandson.

Mary Charles was the epitome of a proud Huntsville native. Born and raised in Huntsville, she attended Sam Houston State University (SHSU) where she earned her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Education degrees. It was at SHSU she first caught the eye of the love of her life, Jack, who never missed an opportunity to recount when he first saw her "walk by in white shorts, twirling her baton."  The two married in 1952 and spent nearly the whole of their lives together in Huntsville. Mary Charles was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church, where she supported Granny's Kitchen and was a valued member of the compassion team. Thanks to her devoted caregivers, Mary Charles continued to attend services even as dementia began to rob her of her ability to follow the sermons.  She always enjoyed the music and easily sang along very much on key.

Outside of Jesus and her family, one of Mary Charles' greatest loves was cooking. Her daughters and their friends lovingly remember Mary Charles' homemade chicken salad sandwiches (the crusts always cut off the bread), and sweet treats like chocolate chip cookies and brownies for high school bus trips and parties. Her grandchildren's memories are filled with images of their "Charlie" standing in the kitchen in one of her vintage aprons, making plum jelly from scratch over the burner, with fruit from her own tree. They remember anxiously awaiting the sound of the screen door at Club Lake creaking open, as she walked in with a fresh peach cobbler or cherry pie, still warm in hand. Her church family fondly think back on her "twenty something" German Chocolate and Italian Cream cakes she'd make to order each year. A true expression of her love for others, Mary Charles used cooking to bring family, friends, and the community together whenever she could. A now priceless gift, Mary Charles preserved her love of cooking by gifting each of her daughters with a hand-written copy of her favorite recipes, ensuring the joy her cooking inspired could be continuously shared and experienced with generations to come.

Mary Charles also had a great love for the game of bridge, and was an avid player. Over the years, she was devoted to her bridge club and reveled in the social aspects of the game, enjoying the company of lifelong friends. These friendships provided a continued blessing to Mary Charles long after she played her final hand at the game, by providing support, prayer, and love as dementia set in and began to run its course.  The years long battle with this merciless disease were underscored by Mary Charles' reliance on Jesus' peace that surpasses all understanding. But even in the midst of a tragic diagnosis, the Lord showed his faithfulness yet again in blessing Mary Charles with a team of devoted and skillful caretakers, always known as "Team Charlie"; Rebecca Byrd, Tracy Bomer, Loredana Jacobsen and Amanda, with Divine Life Change. "Team Charlie" loved Mary Charles deeply and allowed her to continue living the richest and most blessed life she could while battling her illness. One of Mary Charles' few wishes in life was she always live in Huntsville. She had often told her husband, Jack, she had "no interest in ever living more than a stone's throw away from the Walker County Courthouse." Due to the devotion and service of her "Team Charlie", Mary Charles' wish was honored. They ensured she was in her favorite church pew each Sunday, at her weekly hair appointment every Wednesday with Jo Hayman, and able to stay in the home Mary Charles and Jack built in 1985. Mary Charles especially loved the weekly visits of Mary Eleanor Stiles, her beloved friend since kindergarten, as well as Franklin "D-Boy" and Martha Williams many telephone calls, visits and beautiful fresh flowers. In her final days, "Team Charlie" provided a sense of peace and security, along with 1st Choice Hospice Team, to ensure Mary Charles was comfortable, in the home she loved, surrounded by her daughters and those who loved her dearly as she peacefully entered her eternal rest, her mind finally free and memory restored.

Following a family graveside service the family invites you to a visitation, Sunday, February 26, 2023 from 2:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. at Heritage Oak Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, it is the Family's wishes that contributions should be made to the Good Shepherd Mission of Huntsville (thegsmisson.org), or a charity of your choice.

Memorial condolences may be made to the family online at www.heritageoakfh.com