Mary Reed Doolittle
June 20, 1927 - May 10, 2015
Salinas

Mary Reed Doolittle, of Salinas, our beloved mother and friend, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015, Mother's Day. She was born June 20, 1927 in Oakland, graduated from Oakland High School and attended California College of Arts & Crafts.

In 1948, Mary wed Frank J. Reed in Oakland, became a homemaker and gave birth to three daughters. The young family moved to Salinas in 1956 where their fourth daughter was born. After they divorced in 1960, Mary began her 30 year career in banking. She continued to pursue her passion of cooking, sewing, arts and crafts that she used to decorate her home for every season. Mary's eye for color, balance and design developed into her unique skill with ceramics creating many cherished family keepsakes. In the winter of her years, she married Charles L. Doolittle, MD (Salinas/Montana). They lived nearly seven years in Florence, Montana before his death in 2009. Mary returned to Salinas in 2010.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Martha Kathleen (Kay) and Maxwell Dean (Bob) Biringer; and her sister and nephew.

She is survived by daughters, Kathy (John) O'Connell of Murrieta, Carolyn (Richard) Humphreys of Salinas, Elizabeth (Beezie) (Richard) Chapman of San Jose, and Margaret Reed of Glen Ridge, NJ; brother, Jack Biringer of Berkeley; niece, Jill (Chris) Mills of Trinidad; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A family celebration of Mary's life will be held at a later time. Our family would like to thank all who lovingly cared for our mom over the years.

Published in The Salinas Californian from May 19 to May 21, 2015