This is the story of Mary Alice (Sparks) Guffey. She was a wonderful woman who was loved and cherished and will be missed dearly. She was known as "Peaches" by her husband, David, "Grandmother" by her many descendants and "MareAlice" by her father. She was an amazing wife, mom, grandmother, daughter and biscuit maker like no other ever could be. Mary Alice's story started in Chattanooga in 1924 where she was raised with lots of love and nearly as much laughter. She was the oldest of 4 children and loved to tell stories of the flowers her father grew winning blue ribbons at contests all over the southeastern US. She always remembered her mother helping to feed people during the great depression and her brother dressing up in funny costumes pretending to be a traveling book salesman. She met David Guffey while working at a TNT plant during World War II. They always had fun joking about her maiden name of Sparks as an employee working around TNT. David claimed he fulfilled his patriotic duty by getting Sparks out of the TNT plant. He had her come to Arizona to pin his US Army Air Corps wings on him, and marry him. They raised 3 beautiful children, Shirley Annette (the late Bill) Doubt, David Michael (Dru) Guffey and Timothy Bruce (Kandi) Guffey. They traveled all over the eastern US for David's career at Procter & Gamble and made connections in the community and memories everywhere they went. They discovered "merminks" in Virginia and had many fond memories of a little neighbor boy who would entertain himself by hitting his home's porch railing with drumsticks, while calling for "Mrs. Guuuuufffeeyyy." When they moved to Lima, Ohio, Mary was very involved in leading fundraising efforts for the Lima Memorial Hospital Auxiliary's efforts to purchase needed equipment. She was the first female director on the local YMCA Board of Directors. Mary and David traveled several times to Alaska and Germany to visit their daughter Shirley and her family, reliving some of their own memories as part of the US Army of Occupation following World War II. They also traveled to the beautiful mountains of Virginia to visit their son Mike who entered The Virginia Military Institute while the rest of the family moved to Ohio. This was an experience that has played a big part in Mike's life. They also had many opportunities to be with Mike and his family in Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina. Mary and David supported their youngest son Tim in joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints while he was following in his father's footsteps as a chemical engineering student at Georgia Tech. She even supported him going to West Germany on a mission although when he got home she handcuffed him to her arm at the airport to clarify he wasn't to leave again. She and David joined the church shortly after Tim's return from Germany, and dedicated themselves to its service for the rest of their lives. Tim and his family lived close to David and Mary in Cincinnati until her passing. Mary is the grandmother to 18 grandchildren who all remember spending time at her house as some of their most impactful and joyous moments. She was always baking something and cooked tremendous meals. Nobody ever left hungry or without 'nilla wafers and Death by Chocolate Ice Cream. She helped mend more than a few skinned knees because she believed in kids being kids and having fun in the woods. She even helped bait fishhooks and pulled in more than her share of large mouth bass. She was also well known for being able to eat an entire watermelon on her own but she always made sure everyone around got a piece unless it was her birthday. She leaves behind many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren who either remember her as a force to be reckoned with or will be taught such by their parents. Mary graduated from this life on July 29, 2022. Family and friends will be received Friday, August 12 from 6-8 PM in the Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 129 N. Riverside Ave., Loveland. Family and friends will also be received on Saturday, August 13 from 9-10 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 8250 Cornell Rd., Montgomery, where funeral services will be held at 10 AM. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mason. The family is requesting no flowers. We wish we could use one of the many arrangements she put together during her life. Mary would want you instead to please send flowers to your local nursing home or hospice or make a donation to a charity of your choice. Make sure you stop to smell the flowers, as she did during her wonderful life, and even better, give others a reminder to slow down and smell them too.