Mary Lou Chapey Edwards, age 93, a longtime resident of Pensacola, FL, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Mary was born on January 27, 1933, in St. Louis, MO, where she grew up and attended Kirkwood High School. She married Bud in 1952, and they traveled with their daughters to various Air Force Duty stations around the world before settling back in St. Louis County in 1967. There she immediately began working in the automotive aftermarket. Mary held positions in accounting, customer service and sales, working her way up, and was chosen to go to Pensacola to open a packaging and distribution center for Echlin Fuel and Emissions Division, known as Pacer Industries. Getting to be near the beach was a big part of her excitement in moving to Pensacola. She was on the ground floor before there was even a building. She served as plant manager from 1985 until her retirement in 1996. She was often highlighted in the Pensacola News Journal and received a key to the city. Mary was very proud of her Pacer "family" and remained close with many people (including the start-up team, Pat, Al, Wayne, Louie and Paul) through the years.

Mary loved traveling with her girlfriends, Carolyn, Deb, Linda and Choosie. Their outings often included trips to Bull Shoals Lake where her treasured brothers lived, beach time and trips to the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS. After retirement, she loved spending time with her family, her friends and gardening. The family often joked that she went from plant manager to plants manager. Mary and Bud enjoyed golf with their many friends, especially Doug, Louie, and his boy Joshua. She loved cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Her husband adored her and called her Ichiban and Mary Louise Birdlegs.

After Bud passed, in 2001, Mary became very active with her friends at Sacred Heart rehab facility. They often bragged about her strength training and little muscles, under Kyle's mentorship and friendship. She always looked forward to the monthly group lunch outings. Another life highlight was attending Vietnam Vet Reunions around the country with lifelong friends, the Smiths. In 2009, she spent a most memorable 10 days in Washington DC with her daughter, Becky. Mary loved current events and kept up with things happening in the world. After moving to Wesley Haven Villas assisted living in late 2024, she met and encouraged many friends and organized many activities.

Her long-time neighbor and dearest friend, Tura, was an incomparable support and integral part of her chosen family throughout her retirement. Granddaughter Debby, was her “sun-will-come-out tomorrow” girl and her family was treasured. It is impossible to list all the people Mary connected to in her lifetime, but we will add special loves, Annie, Myra, Kim and Robyn.

Mary is preceded in death by, her loving husband, Ralph “Bud” Edwards; her mother, Nettie Duncan Rulo; a daughter, Debra “Debi” Edwards; a brother, Andy Chapey; and a sister, Emma Chapey. Everyone will tell you she did everything 100%. She often said she had a great life. She is greatly missed.

Those left to cherish her memory include, her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Rogers of Holly Springs, MS; a brother, Jack Locke of Rio Verde, AZ; granddaughter, Debra Rizor (Charlie) of Mead, CO; two great-grandchildren, Mary Clinton of Aurora, CO and Nick Clinton (Clarissa) of Firestone, CO; as well as a great-great grandson, Atlas Clinton.

A funeral cortege will depart Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel at 10:30am for a graveside service that will begin at 11:00am Friday, February 13, 2026, at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola.

The family would like to extend special thanks to her friends, Brittany with STAT Home Health, Marci and Lisa with 901 Home Health, the awesome staff at Hearthside Senior Living and her Gentiva Hospice team.