Mary Ellen Nacey, 89, of Redwood City, California, passed away peacefully on the morning of December 12, 2024. She was dearly loved by her family and many friends. Mary was born in Henrietta, Oklahoma to Hugh C. and Mary Isabel (Sadler) Hall. She was the youngest of three siblings, her brother H. David Hall and sister Martha Hackworth.

Mary attended school in Oklahoma City and graduated from Oklahoma University, in Norman, Oklahoma, with a degree in Sociology. She married after graduation and had two daughters, Cheryl Anne Bridges and Diana Lynn Bridges. Mary was a resident of San Angelo, Texas for many years, then moved to the Bay Area in 1972. After years of being divorced, she met the love of her life, James (Jim) Nacey, while working as a secretary for the Radiology Department at Stanford University. Mary and Jim married in December 1992.  

Mary’s love of nature inspired her to become a volunteer with wildlife rescue at the Peninsula Humane Society in Burlingame where she fostered, loved and released hundreds of squirrels. Her experience and dedication with fostering baby squirrels caught the attention of USA Today newspaper which published a front page story honoring her as the “Squirrel Whisperer”.

Mary enjoyed poetry, Tai Chi and photography and treasured her life with Jim, his daughters, Anne Nacey Maggioncalda, Aileen Nacey Schmoller and their families, as well as time spent with her daughters, Cheryl and Diana.  

Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jim, her brother David and her parents. She is survived by her sister Martha Hackworth and her children, Susan Hackworth Hoffman, Catherine Hackworth, Blair Hackworth and Patricia Hackworth; Kay Hall, wife of H. David Hall and their sons, Steven, Andrew, Brian and their families; her daughters, Cheryl Bridges of San Antonio, Texas, Diana Bridges of Kyle, Texas; her step-daughters and their husbands, Anne and Jeffrey Maggioncalda of Palo Alto, Aileen and Christopher Schmoller of Palo Alto and her 5 granddaughters, Alison Maggioncalda, Julia Maggioncalda, Lindsay Maggioncalda, Catherine Schmoller and Bridget Schmoller.  

Many heartfelt thanks to Sage Eldercare and Mary’s loving caregivers, Susan and Ivy, who dedicated their time and companionship to her during her final years.