Obituary for Mary Saied
Funeral mass for Mary Saied, 96, will be held Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church of Childress with Father John Valdez officiating. Burial will follow in Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
St. Francis de Sales once said, “Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
Our dear Mary Saied, our mother, our Siti, our Aunt Mary, and dear friend, passed from this life into the glory of God on September 20, 2022, exactly one month after her 96th birthday, in Amarillo, Texas; she passed away peacefully at home with her son, her daughter-in-law, and her grandson by her side. Some of you may be asking what "Siti” means; it really means more than ‘grandmother’ in Arabic... it means your best friend and your confidante, someone that loves you regardless of your self-perceived faults, someone that will never disgrace or humiliate you. The kindest love ever. Mary’s love was all encompassing and reached many, many people. Her faith was not only practiced privately, but shown through her actions and kind words. Mary exemplified grace and love... everyone she met was better for knowing her.
Mary DeGaish was born August 20, 1926, in Sweetwater, TX, to Shaff and Lorece DeGaish. Mary excelled as a student, and we have the report cards to prove it! On April 28th, 1946, Mary wed the love of her life, Alexander Ben Saied. Shortly after, they relocated to Childress, TX. They had an unbelievable 51 years together. After losing two precious little girls to liver disease, they raised a son, Sammy, and he filled the void in their lives with so much joy!
They built many successful businesses together under the Saied’s Department stores name and several Gibson’s discount centers. They so loved the city of Childress and everyone who lives there. She loved working and never missed a day of work if she could help it. Her passion was being around people.
She stayed employed into her 80’s, delivering groceries to her home-bound friends for United and picking up extra time at Dollar General. Her many contributions to the community never went unnoticed as she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement from the Childress Chamber of Commerce.
Alex and Mary traveled extensively, usually with dear friends or family, including excursions to Bangkok and Hong Kong, along with the many trips to Las Vegas. There they had front row seats in the heyday of Elvis, Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis just to name a few. She and Alex went to many reunions of his navy ship, the U.S.S. Altamaha. On one particular Navy trip to California, she got to go to a taping of “The Price Is Right” and she has told that story to anyone who would listen, sometimes two or three times! Every day, that show was “must see tv” along with “Wheel of Fortune” and “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”!
At home Mary made everyone feel welcome. And if you visited their home, there was a zero chance that you left hungry! Her grandchildren will never forget that if they said they were hungry, she could have a “little steak” ready in minutes!
Mary’s home embodied the love she displayed to anyone who visited. At The Saied house, she was a master class in the kitchen with a specialty in Lebanese dishes. She happily hosted decades of holiday gatherings, family reunions and countless bridge games with her girlfriends!
The happiest of memories from these gatherings will carry on for generations.
She moved to Amarillo from Childress five years ago to live with her son, Sammy, and the family. Although it was difficult, she adjusted and so enjoyed being with all the 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. How fortunate we were to have this time with her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Alex (d.1997), and her two precious baby girls, Dianne (d.1950) and Mary Alexis (d.1952), brother M.S. (De) Degaish.
Mary is survived by her son Sammy Saied and wife Kathy Sager Saied of Amarillo, TX, brother, Melade Degaish of Portland, TX; grandchildren David and wife Margie, Mark, Sean and wife Rhonda, and Mary Katherine and husband Brodie all of Amarillo, Steven and wife Mallory of Fort Worth. Her later years were full of fun following 12 great-grandchildren; she had those birthday cards ready three weeks ahead!
Although our hearts are heavy, we know that her memory will live on in so many people!
St. Francis de Sales once said, “Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
Our dear Mary Saied, our mother, our Siti, our Aunt Mary, and dear friend, passed from this life into the glory of God on September 20, 2022, exactly one month after her 96th birthday, in Amarillo, Texas; she passed away peacefully at home with her son, her daughter-in-law, and her grandson by her side. Some of you may be asking what "Siti” means; it really means more than ‘grandmother’ in Arabic... it means your best friend and your confidante, someone that loves you regardless of your self-perceived faults, someone that will never disgrace or humiliate you. The kindest love ever. Mary’s love was all encompassing and reached many, many people. Her faith was not only practiced privately, but shown through her actions and kind words. Mary exemplified grace and love... everyone she met was better for knowing her.
Mary DeGaish was born August 20, 1926, in Sweetwater, TX, to Shaff and Lorece DeGaish. Mary excelled as a student, and we have the report cards to prove it! On April 28th, 1946, Mary wed the love of her life, Alexander Ben Saied. Shortly after, they relocated to Childress, TX. They had an unbelievable 51 years together. After losing two precious little girls to liver disease, they raised a son, Sammy, and he filled the void in their lives with so much joy!
They built many successful businesses together under the Saied’s Department stores name and several Gibson’s discount centers. They so loved the city of Childress and everyone who lives there. She loved working and never missed a day of work if she could help it. Her passion was being around people.
She stayed employed into her 80’s, delivering groceries to her home-bound friends for United and picking up extra time at Dollar General. Her many contributions to the community never went unnoticed as she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement from the Childress Chamber of Commerce.
Alex and Mary traveled extensively, usually with dear friends or family, including excursions to Bangkok and Hong Kong, along with the many trips to Las Vegas. There they had front row seats in the heyday of Elvis, Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis just to name a few. She and Alex went to many reunions of his navy ship, the U.S.S. Altamaha. On one particular Navy trip to California, she got to go to a taping of “The Price Is Right” and she has told that story to anyone who would listen, sometimes two or three times! Every day, that show was “must see tv” along with “Wheel of Fortune” and “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”!
At home Mary made everyone feel welcome. And if you visited their home, there was a zero chance that you left hungry! Her grandchildren will never forget that if they said they were hungry, she could have a “little steak” ready in minutes!
Mary’s home embodied the love she displayed to anyone who visited. At The Saied house, she was a master class in the kitchen with a specialty in Lebanese dishes. She happily hosted decades of holiday gatherings, family reunions and countless bridge games with her girlfriends!
The happiest of memories from these gatherings will carry on for generations.
She moved to Amarillo from Childress five years ago to live with her son, Sammy, and the family. Although it was difficult, she adjusted and so enjoyed being with all the 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. How fortunate we were to have this time with her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Alex (d.1997), and her two precious baby girls, Dianne (d.1950) and Mary Alexis (d.1952), brother M.S. (De) Degaish.
Mary is survived by her son Sammy Saied and wife Kathy Sager Saied of Amarillo, TX, brother, Melade Degaish of Portland, TX; grandchildren David and wife Margie, Mark, Sean and wife Rhonda, and Mary Katherine and husband Brodie all of Amarillo, Steven and wife Mallory of Fort Worth. Her later years were full of fun following 12 great-grandchildren; she had those birthday cards ready three weeks ahead!
Although our hearts are heavy, we know that her memory will live on in so many people!