Mary Smalling, 88, died on August 8, 2016, at her home in Jasper, Tennessee, having experienced declining health due to Alzheimer's disease since at least 2003.

Born Mary Stella Ridings in Paris, Tennessee, on December 20, 1927, she lived briefly in Henderson, McKenzie, and Jackson, Tennessee, before spending most of her childhood and 20s living in McEwen, Tennessee. She was among the fifth generation of Ridings residing in Humphreys County. After working three years as office manager at the local knitting mill, Mary Stella rode the bus daily to Nashville, where she obtained training necessary for a better job. Through almost the entire 1950s, she worked for TVA at New Johnsonville, Paducah, and Gallatin, where she met TVA engineer Herman Smalling, who became her husband on September 26, 1959.

Since 1964 when the Smalling family moved to Jasper, Mary was an active member of McKendree Methodist Church, working in the Wesleyan Service Guild and Workers & Helpers Sunday School Class. She managed numerous rummage sales and pecan sales to raise funds to furnish the church parsonage, then wrote and published the church newsletter for more than ten years. Mary also volunteered for numerous civic and charitable causes in Jasper. Beginning in 1966, she was an active member of the Blue Springs Home Demonstration Club. She had many skills and hobbies, including cooking, sewing, knitting, furniture upholstery, and crafts.

Survivors include her son, Stephen Joel Smalling, who has lived with her in Jasper since April 2009; daughter, Margaret Susan Wilkerson, son-in-law, Bill Wilkerson, and granddaughter, Emily Catherine Wilkerson, all of Murfreesboro; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Eldridge Smalling; parents, Ned Clay Ridings and Allie Lee McClelland; brothers, Robert Joel Ridings, William Harrison "Dub" Ridings, and Ned Clay Ridings, Jr; and two sisters, Clara Ruth McGinnis and Ella Sue Ridings, who died as an infant.

The family wishes to thank Christie Pitts for her service as a caregiver since 2007, and Sandra Pittman for her service as a caregiver since July 2014.

Memorials may be made to McKendree Methodist Church, 106 Highway 150, Jasper, TN 37347.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00 pm Central Time on Wednesday, August 10th, at Rogers Funeral Home in Jasper.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Central Time on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at McKendree Methodist Church, Jasper, Tennessee, with Rev. Joey Manis and Rev. David Harr officiating.

A private burial ceremony will occur with Rev. Ron Ramsey officiating. Burial will be beside her husband at Shell Cemetery, adjacent to Piney Flats Methodist Church in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.