Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to another Buzz: Blog Alumni Spotlight and today we are with Mary the Franklin Pierce’s Princess from 1973. Their theme, Happiness is… This Theme explores the idea of sugar spice, and everything nice. Mary has participated in watching the festival as much as she can and as she says “I continue to live the Princess Life…” She has a BA in Elementary Education and a Masters in Curriculum Development. Upon finishing her education she taught 5th grade for 25 years and is now retired. In her retirement she has faced cancer twice and beat it! Now she loves do floral arrangements for special events and living her “Princess Life.”
Left to right: Kent (Mary’s son), Tarah, Mary, Brad (Mary’s son), and Kona the husky. Fun fact Mary did all the florals!
Q: What was your journey with the Daffodil Festival? Can you share your favorite story from your reign with us?
A: “I was Franklin Pierce’s Princess in 1973. I never expected to be chosen for such an honor in a million years. My sister was in the audience, and when my name was announced she screamed and immediately started crying. I was used to her crying and screaming at me, but not because she was happy for me!”
Q: What does the Daffodil Festival mean to you?
A: “I remember watching the parade from a building in downtown Tacoma when I was little. My cousin and a friend of hers, I think, had access to wherever we were, and it was a good thing we were inside because it was pouring rain that day. The Royal Court was wearing clear plastic rain jackets over their gowns, and when the float broke down they had to get off and walk at least part of the route. Even though I didn’t understand it until I was older, it meant that the show must go on. Spectators were standing on the sidewalk getting soaked, and the bands, clowns, mounted units, and entertainers were getting soaked right along with everybody else, but they all pressed on as best they could.”
Q: What is your favorite thing you’ve done during your reign?
A: “I loved the day we spent in Gig Harbor. It was warm and sunny, and I thought I’d love to live there. It wasn’t to be, but wow it felt so welcoming!”
Q: What lessons have you learned through the Festival that has helped you?
A: “Well, I learned that I really can’t dance. Remembering this has saved me from a few potentially embarrassing displays. We would occasionally be asked to dance with guests at some of our appearances. I never did figure out what it meant to let my partner lead.”
Q: Can you share an experience of support you received with the Daffodil Festival?
A: “You know, I think the chaperones who got us to all our appearances were unsung heroes a lot of the time. They often had our backs with extra panty hose if we had wardrobe malfunctions or forgot our gloves. Everybody knew there was likely to be a judge watching for slip-ups and sometimes it was our [chaperones] moms-away-from-mom that saved us.”
Q: What is your vocation and what job(s) do you do outside of the Festival?
A: “I have a BA in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State University in Denver, and a Masters in Curriculum Development from Lesley University. I taught 5th grade in the Aurora Public Schools for 25 years, retiring in June of 2006. I still think of my students as “my” kids and I remain in contact with quite a few of them even now. One of “my” girls just received her doctorate in Educational Leadership. Planning ahead for retirement, I acquired a certificate in floral design and worked in the floral department of King Soopers (Kroger) for 10 years before starting my own home-based floral design business. When I’m decorating an arch for a wedding, I often think about the night before the Grand Parade when the Royal Court visited the facility where volunteers were stuffing flowers in the Tacoma City Light float, which was actually the Queen’s Float I believe.”
Q: If you could give advice to someone wanting to become a princess, what would you say?
A: “Give it a whirl! You might surprise yourself like I did and become part of something life-changing.”
Q: Can you tell us about your life since your reign?
A: “I’ve lived in the Denver, Colorado area since 1975 when my husband was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. We have 2 sons, Brad and Kent, and we moved to the formerly-small town of Parker, southeast of Denver in 1988. Brad lives near us in Castle Rock, CO. Kent lives in Southern California with his new bride. I often look back on my time with the Festival as one of the most exciting periods of my life, right there with my wedding and the births of the boys. Of course, there have been a few bumps along the way. Shortly after I retired from teaching, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. I was declared cancer-free in 2017, only to discover the cancer was back and metastasized in my hip and spine in 2020. I did avoid Covid though! I’ve had more chemo and radiation (and lost my hair 3 times) but I feel great and I have some seriously wonderful people caring for me. I continue to live the Princess Life…”
