June 21, 1949 – April 27, 2026
Mary Bolling Holloway McEntire was born on June 21, 1949, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and gently passed on April 27, 2026, in Park City, Utah, with two loving animals curled up by her side.
The third of four children—with sisters Nini and Ann and brother Freddy— she spent much of her childhood palling around with her cousin Kathy Haygood, both in Baton Rouge and at the family’s country property, Hazelwood, in Laurel Hill, Louisiana. There, they would leave the windows open to catch country sounds at night and explore fields and forests on horseback by day. Her father worked for Exxon, and his work-related moves and trips nurtured Mary’s love of travel early—a love that extended throughout her life. Some of her fondest memories were made while traveling, including family car trips to Florida beaches, train trips to Camp Chattooga in Northern Georgia, student exchange programs to Mexico and France, and later in life, seeing countries with her family, including grandsons Andrew and Taylor and granddaughters Ariel and Aurora. Whether by foot, bike, car, train, or plane, a life of travel and adventures fed her soul.
These travels and Mary’s childhood in the South cultivated a deep commitment to civil rights, social justice, and helping others. Her Master of Divinity degree and her subsequent hospice chaplaincy work allowed her to extend her kindness, patience, empathy, and skill to individuals and their families facing one of life’s greatest challenges: how to face its end.
A brilliant woman, Mary was valedictorian of her high school class and attended Smith College, where, at a Dartmouth-Smith mixer, she met Bart McEntire, whom she married after graduation. Forgoing graduate school initially, she instead raised their three children, whom she adored: Katherine, Harriet, and Jay. Life—and an ad in a ski magazine for Deer Valley—ultimately led the family to Park City in the 1990s, where Mary could indulge her love of skiing and the peace that fresh tracks brought her. She earned an advanced ski instructor certification and taught at Park City and then Deer Valley for twenty years, guiding thousands of people—especially fearful women— through their first turns with kindness, skill, and patience, all while spreading her love of the sport and these mountains. After her marriage ended, Mary committed herself to hospice chaplaincy work, the St. Luke’s Episcopal church community, and her family.
Of the many simple things in life that brought her joy, a few stood out: long walks, preferably with dogs; turns in fresh powder; quiet nights on the couch with a book and her pets curled up by her side; and noise and chaos of grandkids about.
A mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, friend—Mary meant much to many and will be missed by all.