Mary Putnam Obituary

Mary Feiock Putnam
October 4, 1954 - April 15, 2025
Mary Feiock Putnam of Brentwood, Tennessee passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025, following a valiant seven-year battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her mother, the late Josephine Dowdle Feiock and her father, the late Lt. Commander Harold King Feiock.
Following her 1972 graduation from Hall High School in Little Rock, she attended William Woods College in Fulton, MO and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR, where she studied psychology.
Devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend and Dog-Mom all apply to this elegant, beautiful and charming lady. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Thomas Evans Putnam, Sr., four wonderful, hard charging children; Thomas Evans Putnam, Jr., Taylor Putnam Ryan (Stephen) and Kate Putnam Sandoval (Jonathan) and stepdaughter, McLane Lee Barber (Brent) and their children Gage, Gracie, Caden and Jack.
The joy of her life was being "G-Ma" to 6 beautiful grandchildren: Rex Taylor, Piper Elizabeth, Remington Thatcher, and Palmer Lee Ryan and Oliver King and Penelope Kate Sandoval. Over the years she also mothered Fur-babies too numerous to name; most recently Moose, the floppy eared Basset who also survives.
Mary and husband Tom officially began their "excellent" adventure as husband and wife in Little Rock, Arkansas on July 23, 1983, in a service officiated by Dr. James B. Argue, Sr. on what would have been the 100th birthday of Mary's grandfather, the late Joe Haniford Dowdle. The ceremony took place at Trapnell Hall, Mary's ancestral home which was converted to a city owned event center.
Over the decades, Mary and Tom lived throughout the south, including Louisville, Kentucky, Roswell (Atlanta), Georgia, Vestavia Hills (Birmingham), Alabama and currently Brentwood (Nashville), Tennessee. Wherever they moved they immediately sought out a United Methodist Church and couples Sunday school class where they knew they would be welcomed.
Mary's most rewarding professional achievement was her time serving as Executive Director of the Birmingham Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). During her tenure she transformed the organization from a small core group to a vibrant and active force in the greater Birmingham Community. Among the many programs she administered for the Chapter were, most notably, the annual "Draw your Dream House" competition among area elementary schools and the Habitat for Humanity Charity Golf Tournament, which raised thousands of dollars for that worthy cause. Both events raised awareness of the value of the building arts profession in the Community. Her impact was so great that when she left the organization in 2004 to move to Nashville, she was awarded an "Honorary" AIA designation by the Institute.
Once in Nashville she continued in a variety of capacities both in and out of the design field. She worked for years as a salesperson for the Hearth and Grille Shoppe and finally at Two Danes furniture where she was a designer and top salesperson.
An avid runner, Mary enjoyed competing against herself in 10K runs wherever she lived, including the Peachtree Road race in the Olympic year,1996 and in Brentwood where she once won the Masters Division of a 10k benefiting Brentwood High School.
A voracious reader, Mary was a founding member of her neighborhood's social book club. She was always up for a conversation about the latest bestseller. She also was proud of her ancestry, which qualified her for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The family would like to thank Alive Hospice, Comfort Keepers, the "Women Who Read" book club and all our many friends throughout the Country for their prayers, compassion and the meals they provided during this difficult time.
A Celebration of Life Service will be in Nashville, TN, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in the Brentwood United Methodist Church Chapel at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from noon until the service hour.
Interment will be in Little Rock, AR, Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow immediately.
Mary's final resting place will be in the PHUMC Columbarium Gardens.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made either to Brentwood United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Memorial fund or the Habitat for Humanity Chapter of your choice.
The McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston, Missouri is in charge of all arrangements.
Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.