Mary Nell Laird Day

Mary Nell Laird Day died on April 4, 2024 at the age of 92. The only child of Mary Etta Wheeler Laird and Rosser Elbert Laird, she was born on March 20, 1932 in Kingsville, Texas. She and her parents moved to Corpus Christi when she was very young, and she lived there until her death. Graduating in the last class of Corpus Christi High School, she was married to Marion Orville Day from June 20, 1952 until his death on July 30, 2006. She is survived by her children, Kathleen Day (Scott Oates) and Richard Day (Mary Beth) and one grandson, Rosser Laird Oates. 

Mary Nell loved the Lord and was an active member in two churches in Corpus Christi -- Parkdale Baptist Church, for over 50 years and First Baptist Church where at the age of 76, she jumped at the chance to join a Sunday School class called “The Wild Bunch!” While a member of Parkdale, she taught Sunday School, Girl’s Auxiliary and Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, attended Tuesday morning visitation and the Women’s Missionary Union, coordinated Wednesday night church suppers and weddings on the weekends. She was essentially there when the doors were open. While engaged in her church activities, she was intensely involved in the lives of her children as Room Mother, PTA member, Bluebird, Campfire Girl, and Cub Scout leader.  She was a faithful carpool driver for her children and their friends, as well as her grandson. She was Bibi to a whole generation of Corpus kids and everyone knew her as such. She only had one grandchild, but her later years revolved around him. She was an unofficial Room Mother, project coordinator and costume designer. She took lunch to him at Windsor Park Elementary, Baker Middle School, and Ray High School as often as she was in town, and in turn, he was devoted to her. 

Her interests were varied. She was a very long-term member of the Flower Basket Garden Club as a flower arranger, not a flower planter! She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and was proud that she could trace her ancestry back several generations to the founding of Texas. She attended League of Women Voters meetings, and never turned down an invitation. Mary Nell was the life of any party and never met a stranger. She loved people and cared for friends and family when they were in need.   

She lived her life well and all those in her orbit were blessed by her presence. We mourn that she is no longer in our physical presence, but rejoice in the knowledge that she is reaping the reward of her commitment to the Lord and belief in His promise of everlasting life.

We kindly request that memorials to our mother be made to the First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, children’s ministry.

A burial service will be held at 10am on Friday, April 12, 2024 at Sinton Cemetery. A memorial service will be held that same day at 1pm at Seaside Funeral Home Chapel with a reception to immediately follow.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.