Mary Pedelty

Mary Pedelty, a resident of Eureka Springs for 30 years, died at her home on Jan. 24 at the age of 88.

Born Gwenllian Gill in Yorkshire, England, Mary left England in 1932 at the age of 17 when her sister, unbeknown to Mary, had submitted a photo of her to a movie studio search for the most beautiful girl in the world. As a finalist she had to play a role in a film that documented the process. She won the Paramount Pictures contest. The award included both an $1,000 cash prize and a contract with the studio in California.

During the '30s she acted in several feature films, having the lead role in six British ones, using her professional theatrical name of Mary Flynn. In 1939, with the outbreak of World War II, she volunteered for service in the British army.

When the war ended, she came to the U.S. as a British Information Officer, a Foreign Office post, serving in Seattle. During her time there she married Donovan Pedelty, a BBC journalist and film director, on Feb. 12, 1949. Shortly afterwards, she became an American citizen.

In 1951 the couple moved to Hollywood, where Mary resumed her acting career. She had featured roles on many TV shows including Cheyenne, the 20th Century Fox Hour, the Reader's Digest Theatre and Warner Bros. Presents. She performed small roles in a number of films, two of which were "Midnight Lace" and "The Best of Everything." She also took numerous stage roles at several area theatres such as the Pasadena Playhouse and the Palm Springs Playhouse. She was a member of Screen Actor's Equity, British Actors' Equity, AFTRA and AEA.

They settled in Eureka Springs in 1974, first working at the Great Passion Play, where Donovan held the position of director and Mary played the role of Mary for two seasons.

From 1975 to 1987, Mary was employed as an associate by Jim and Lucilla Garrett, first at their antique store and subsequently at their print shop. She retired in order to take care of her husband Donovan. He died in 1989.

She is survived by her brother-in-law, David Morris of Tauranga, New Zealand; her nephew and his wife, Dr. David Morris and Penny Morris, Northumberland, England, and their four daughters; and her niece, Lesley Morris Mackenzie, Masterton, New Zealand, and her three children.

A memorial service in honor of both Mary and Donovan Pedelty will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. with a tea following in the undercroft. Any memorial donations should be sent to The Eureka Springs Hospital Guild, 24 Norris St., Eureka Springs, AR 72632.