Mary Schnelle

Brentwood, TN - Mary Margaret Dabney Schnelle passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at the age of 88. Born on July 13, 1932 in Washington, D. C., she was the daughter of the late Albert Smith Dabney and Marie Emma McKenney Dabney, and identical twin sister of the late Martha "Marcy" Chappell Dabney Smith.

Mary was a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where she received her bachelor's degree in costume design with a minor in science in 1954. Mary loved sewing and made many costumes for local theater and Shakespeare productions as well as for her children's high school productions. Mary worked as a secretary for the Alcoa Corporation in the 1950's and was asked to design and "sew" ball gowns made out of aluminum foil for an advertising campaign - one of her most challenging creations. Mary's life was devoted to motherhood. Mostly Mary will be remembered as a loving and compassionate mom to all - as a wife, a mother, a sister, and a grandmother. Her pure kindness, wisdom, stubbornness, and gentle soul will forever last in every person's heart whom she touched.

Mary truly loved her family, her husband of 65 years, the late Karl B. Schnelle, Jr., her children, her grandchildren, and her extended family, Partha and Anita Dey and their children Monica and Robin. She thoroughly enjoyed the friendship and devotion of her beloved caregivers. She is survived by her son Karl (Margie) Schnelle and daughter Kathryn (Chris) Robertson, her 5 grandchildren, James (Ruth) Robertson, Michael Robertson, Sarah Robertson, Kate Robertson, and John Robertson, and her many nieces and nephews.