Mary Ellen Priester

Mary Ellen Priester, 88, passed away on March 20, 2018, at The Bridge Assisted Living Community in Greeley, CO. Mary Ellen was born April 16, 1929 in Kalamazoo, MI, to Peter and Theresa Priester. When Mary Ellen was a young girl the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she graduated from Grandview High School. She then studied English at Boston University, commuting from home in Cambridge, MA. While in college, she participated in several student organizations, heading the Horseback Riding Club. She earned a degree in English from BU in 1951. Upon graduating, Mary Ellen began a career with AT&T and rose quickly in the ranks, becoming one of the company’s first women managers. Promotions took her to multiple offices in the New York City area before transferring to Florida to prepare for AT&T’s divestiture. Upon retiring after more than 32 years with the company, she devoted her time to caring for her mother in Winter Park, FL, and to charitable activities as part of Winter Park Presbyterian Church and the Pioneers Volunteer Network. In 2014 she moved to The Bridge Assisted Living Community in Greeley, CO, to be near her sister’s family. She greatly appreciated the care and companionship she received from The Bridge and from family. Mary Ellen was adventurous, athletic, popular, and intelligent, and delighted others with her sense of humor. She maintained lifelong contact with high school and college friends, coworkers, fellow Marble Collegiate Church members (from her time in NY), and Winter Park Presbyterian Church. She was a truly generous person, investing in the lives of others in a multitude of ways and has been credited with spiritual influence in the lives of loved ones. She was well-loved. Mary Ellen is survived by two nieces, Susan Neeley (Clifton) of Greeley and Sally Levin (Jeffrey) of Lakewood, and several great nieces and nephews and their children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Joyce Hayes and brother-in-law Robert Hayes, nephew William Hayes (Julia), and great nephew Jacob Levin. A memorial service will take place at The Bridge, 4750 25th Street, Greeley, on April 14 at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to "Mary Ellen Priester Memorial Fund” in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Condolences may be shared at AdamsonCares.com.