Mary Gladys Maples, age 88, of Maryville, originally from Dayton, OH, passed away, Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at Foothills Transitional Care. She moved to East Tennessee in 1980 because her dad was from this area. Mary was a member of Dotson Memorial Baptist Church where she loved singing in the choir and talking about the Lord. She also enjoyed sewing, doing word search puzzles, reading Charles Dickens novels, and traveling to England. Mary graduated from John H. Patterson Cooperative High School in Dayton, OH. Mary attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC but received her BS in English from the University of Dayton. She worked on her BSN at UD and UTK. During her second semester of her junior year, she changed to a Masters of Public Health at UTK. She was accepted for her doctorate at UTK. Over the course of her studies, she attended Bob Jones University, University of Dayton, USC and UCLA in California, and UTK. Family was very important to Mary. This was instilled in her from a young age. Being the oldest of her two brothers, she was like a 2nd mother to them. Preceded in death by: father, James Arnold Maples; grandparents, Demster & Mary Esta Maples, Noah Andrew & Mary Jane Shirley. Survivors include: daughters, Meredith Frances & Matheis fiancé Mickey Bradam of Knoxville and Melissa Pearl Williams of Knoxville; grandchildren, Jessica Marie & husband James Blackwel, Whitney Nicole Armstrong, and Justin Allen Armstrong; brothers & sisters-in-law, George Andrew & Vida Tindell Maples of Blount County and Charles Franklin & Carolyn Marie Maples of Ohio; nephews, David Arnold Maples of Blount County, James Raymond Maples of Ohio, and Nicolas Charles & Teresa Maples of Lexington, KY; great-nieces and great-nephews, Dustin Arnold Maples and Danielle Suzanne Maples of Blount County, Ryan Wade Maples of Ohio and Tanner Michael Maples of Ohio; many uncles, aunts, and cousins also survive. Memorial donations may be made to: Dotson Memorial Baptist Church, 814 Dotson Memorial Rd, Maryville, TN 37801. Family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 PM, Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Smith Trinity Chapel. Funeral service will be at 1:00 PM. Family and friends will assemble for interment at 3:00 PM, Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Dotson Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com.