Mary Agnes Early celebrated life with love and appreciation for the family and friends the Lord had given her. She was born in Philadelphia in 1926, the older daughter of Edward Doyle of Brooklyn and Ruth McCloskey Doyle of Lansdowne. When she was 21, Mary fell in love with James Thomas Early from West Philadelphia. Jim and Mary were married in November 1948 and enjoyed 69 years of marriage. They raised their six children with faith, love, and laughter. Later in life, they were blessed with 23 grandchildren, and by 2026, the family grew to include 45 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Mary died on September 19, 2026. Her legacy is her deep faith in and love for the Lord Jesus, love for people, and devotion to her family.

Mary graduated from Holy Child Academy in Chestnut Hill, PA, and worked as a pediatric assistant to an eye therapist. After marrying Jim and starting a family, she became a stay-at-home mother. When Jim and Mary moved to northern New Jersey in 1973 with their younger daughters, she became a preschool teacher and substitute teacher at Assumption Elementary School in Morristown. In 1993, after Jim’s retirement, Jim and Mary moved to Newtown Square, PA.

She treasured reading the Bible every day and joined a Bible Study in her community. She cherished time spent with her children and grandchildren in Pennsylvania, Arizona, California, Colorado, and Georgia. Travel was a favorite activity, and with Jim, she visited many places including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and England. She was thrilled to tour Paris with her sister Joan. Mary enjoyed being with friends, reading, and spending time in Ocean City, NJ, and Marco Island, FL.

Mary is survived by her children, Ruthanne (Greg) Bates, Kathleen Henderson-Gray, Mary Christine Bradley-Smith, James (Sandra) Early, Joan (Frederick) Miller, and Mary Agnes “Mimi” (Thomas) Giordano; her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister and brother-in-law Joan and Richard Devine, and sisters- and brothers-in-law Mary and John Cronin, Patricia and Francis Cabrey, Eleanor and David Howe, and Betty Jane and George Barr, and her son-in-law William Smith.

Mary will be greatly missed, and remembered with deep love and affection, by all of her family.

Services will be announced upon the completion of the funeral arrangements.