Rest In Peace, Mary; You Will Be Missed

Mary Wagoner

I just found out a good friend of mine passed away. Mary Wagoner (@MaryroseWagoner) was introduced to me by a mutual friend fifteen years ago. We worked more projects together than I can count. I helped her with website work, application design, and documentation. She did marketing and PR. The thing about Mary was she knew PR like nobody else I ever met. She shared her experience and knowledge and taught me a lot about that side of the business.

Mary has two daughters I've met once or twice each. But I feel like I know them well because Mary told me all about them often. She loved being a mother and raised her children as single mother, which always deserves my deepest respect. She told me two weeks ago, when I was in Arkansas, how proud she was of them both. They are both smart, independent women because of Mary.

Mary is also one of two people I credit with dragging me into social media kicking and screaming. Mary hammered on me constantly to get on Twitter and Facebook. Eventually I did and she told me a couple of weeks ago how much she enjoyed my blog, tweets, and Facebook page as she dropped me off at the Little Rock Airport. That was the last time I saw her.

Her family has put funeral information on her Facebook page. Sadly, I cannot make the funeral. But my heart goes out to the family. I considered her one of my best friends and will miss her terribly.