Mary M. Cerny

Mary “Beezy” Mylius (Bezoier) Cerny, 86, passed peacefully, but confidently, to be eternally with God on Thursday morning, January 29, 2015.

Mary was “escorted” right up to the Pearly Gates, wrapped in the love and hugs of her adoring family at home in St Pete Beach, Florida. She was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 60 years, James “Jim” Eugene Cerny and sister, Josephine “Jo” Bezoier Turner. She is survived by her two sons: Bruce James (Lisa) Cerny and Charles “Charlie” Stewart (Gail) Cerny; her daughter, Jennifer “Jenny” Lynn (Don) Cerny Gage; brother, Dolph Bezoier; five grandchildren: Amanda Gail (Emilio) Ramirez, Jennifer “Jennie” Michelle (Jason) Macedonia, Chelsea Grace Cerny, Sarah Katherine Gage, and Donald James Gage; and three great grandchildren: Dylan James Ramirez, Delanie Rose Ramirez, and Abel Woods Macedonia.

Mary was born of “hardy Minneapolis, Minnesota stock” (of which she took great pride) on April 18, 1928 to the late Ida Mylius (Wilcox) and Henry Flanders Bezoier. She was their “Little, but Mighty” youngest child. Beezy graduated in 1946 from Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN where she made lifelong friends and memories (We’ve heard the stories!). She attended St. Olaf College. Mary and Jim were married April 9, 1949 at the home of Helen and Chuck Purdy in Minneapolis, MN. They shared 60 years of love, partnership, friendship, food and fun!

Mary was dedicated to practicing (and teaching) the principles she believed! Mary believed in giving sincere time and love to her mate. She enthusiastically camped, hunted, and fished with Jim, being “careful not to horse the big one!” She demonstrated her belief in the value of “Family First” by bringing the family together, serving beautiful meals daily, sharing family heritage and outdoor fun with her children and grandchildren.

Mary’s love of outdoor fun extended to tobogganing, horseback riding and sulky racing, ice skating (where she showed everyone how to “shoot the duck”), swimming, golf, and tennis. She believed in taking care of her body through proper diet, exercise, “going to bed early to feel good tomorrow”, and occasionally standing on her head. According to Mary, “It doesn’t matter where you live. It’s up to you to make yourself happy and to keep learning and growing!” She loved music and art. She devoted time and energy to water color painting, playing the piano, improving her duplicate bridge game, and put her natural inclination to harmonize to good use by singing with the “Sunshine Skyway” and “Pride of Pinellas” Sweet Adelines.

Mary leaves a legacy of life lessons taught through leading by example. She was a tower of self discipline, determination, personal responsibility and love for her family. Mary and Jim loved and shared many wonderful lifetime friendships. She made her priorities in life obvious by how she lived and what she said. She believed in heaven and God’s love. She loved “The Daily Word” and Pass-a-Grille Community Church. Mary will be remembered as a loving and wonderful wife, mother, friend, and someone who is fun to quote! Basically, “at the end of the day, what it all boils down to in a nutshell is that you have to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps because God helps those who help themselves!” You can find Mary now “in the breeze or through images in the clouds”.

A private memorial service and celebration of Mary’s life will be held for family and close friends at Pass-a-Grille Community Church, late in March, 2015. Memorial Donations can be made in Mary’s name to Pass-a-Grille Community Church (Women’s ministries) and mailed to 2811 Alton Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706.

Special Thanks are given to Janel, Pam, and Tammy who so kindly and lovingly cared for Mary when it mattered most and to her late Aunt, Helen Purdy Webster, for her mentorship, love, and belief in Mary throughout her life!