Mary K. Zager passed away peacefully at her residence in Atlanta, Georgia on July 20, 2017. A former resident of Griffin, Georgia, she is preceded in death by her husband Justin A. Zager. She is survived by all five of her children and their spouses, Vera and Ken Fogle of Roswell, Georgia, Joseph and Debra Zager of Belle Haven, Virginia, Dr. Michael and Cindy Zager of Ellijay, Georgia, Cathleen Zager of Atlanta, Georgia, and Christine and Steve Coley of Plano, Texas. She is additionally survived by her eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Mary was born to William Klimko and Ann Shotkoska Klimko, the third of five children, on January 20, 1920 in Nanty-Glo, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Buffalo, New York where she met and married her husband, Justin. All five of her children were born there. She and Justin moved the family to Griffin, Georgia in December 1961, where she resided until 2007, when she moved to Atlanta. She was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Griffin for 46 years.

A devoted mother, wife, daughter, and friend, she cared for her father-in-law until his death in 1959, and then her mother until her death in 1978. She never met a project that she wouldn’t take on, and she never took on a project that she didn’t complete. A tremendously intuitive problem solver, she was able to identify solutions to circumstances whether mechanical, financial, or emotional. She not only saw the best in people, she taught her family and friends to see the best in people. Her singular goal in her later years was to” become a sweet little old lady,” her constant admonition, “Stay close to God.” Her gentle kindness will continue to be an inspiration to all her family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday August 5 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Sacred Heart Church 1323 MacArthur Drive, Griffin, GA 30224.

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