Mary Cornelia Chadwell Dunn, January 25, 1934 – January 23, 2026

Mary Cornelia Chadwell Dunn was born January 25, 1934, in Tazewell TN to Riley Morgan Chadwell and Lucy Golden Payne Chadwell. She was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas McClain Dunn, her son, Larry Morgan Dunn, her sister, Mildred Fultz and three brothers, Harry, Riley and Robert Chadwell. She is survived by her son Gary Dunn (Nancy), daughter Pam Traylor (Clayton) and grandsons Jeff and Greg Dunn and Sam Traylor. She absolutely loved being "Gram" to her grandsons and took great pride in the men they became.

Raised on a small tobacco farm in Tazewell, Mary would tell you she grew up as the spoiled youngest in a tightknit family. She was a good student and a good athlete – playing high school basketball when girls were only allowed to play half court. She left Tennessee for Fairfax, VA where she worked as a switchboard operator and met and married Doug. Mary took great pride in her yard – doing the mowing and landscaping and winning awards for best yard in the neighborhood. She and Doug put in a pool and hosted barbeques, crab boils and celebrations for many family and friends over the years. She set up in a four-hole pitch and putt golf course with a carry over the horseshoe pit on the opening hole and a wicked dogleg around the pool. She drove a school bus and was the fun driver who knew all about the Washington Redskins and hit speed bumps so the kids in the back could catch air. Doug was a policeman and many of her lifelong friends were the wives of other policemen. Between those friends, her wonderful neighbors and her fellow bus driving friends she felt truly blessed. After Doug's passing, Mary moved to Texas to be near her daughter. She continued making new friends and traded trips to casinos in West Virginia for trips to casinos in Oklahoma. She took up water aerobics and put together at least a thousand jigsaw puzzles. While she always hoped to live to 99 like her mom, that was not to be. The years she did have were full of joy and love and her family is sure she wouldn't change a thing.

In the final weeks of Mary's life, she received exceptional care from Kuda and the caregivers at 4 Seasons Senior Living as well as Stephanie, Alan and the hospice team from Vitas.

A visitation will be held at Demaine Funeral Home, 10565 Main Street, Fairfax, VA on February 21, 2026, from 1-3PM

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.