Mary Campbell

Mary Margaret Bailey Campbell 

July 31, 1944 – June 23, 2026

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Mary was an absolute beauty from the day she was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul. She grew up in Newport and attended St. Thomas Aquanis School, then high school at St. Joseph’s Academy. Mary was called to become a nurse after graduation and moved on to St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing where she earned her AA and became an LPN. After several years working at the hospital, Mary had a much higher calling: motherhood!

Back to Newport to raise her four children, Mary also raised vegetable gardens, chickens, horses, a cow and many golden retrievers. Born into the nursery business Mary couldn’t help but have a green thumb. Her flower beds and pots always put on quite a show. Her favorite activities were mostly connected to nature and the outdoors. Several times a year she and Tom would go skiing in Aspen, and every summer you’d find them tooling around on their motorcycle. Each year she’d look for the first bluebird of the season, and spend winters enjoying the scarlet of cardinals at her window.

Lots of memories were made, “up at the cabin” at the lake house on Snowbank Lake in Ely. Days of fishing, picking blueberries, hiking, canoeing, curling up with a good book, and floating on the lake ended with fish fries over a campfire, sunsets, games of gin rummy, and falling asleep to the call of loons across the water. This was her happy place!

Mary took up many new challenging activities later in life with Tom. She learned to ski down black diamond runs at forty, and she even overcame her claustrophobia to become certified in scuba. They enjoyed many trips together, including Honduras, Colorado, Hawaii, and numerous times to San Diego. Mary and Tom also became national champions at country dancing competitions. What a sight they were to watch! She loved all their many adventures together.

More than anything Mary loved being with her family. With a blended family of eight children and MANY grandchildren, there were always plenty of celebrations to come together. Christmases, Easters, birthdays, and all holidays had their unique traditions. Mary’s baking and cooking made each gathering special and delicious! There were always chocolate chip cookies available for anyone who came through the door, just like her own mom had done. She relished in telling funny stories about her childhood, growing up at the nursery with her brothers, sister Ginny, and best friend Janny.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Margaret Bailey, her brother Gordie Bailey Jr., brother-in-law Eddie Bartch, sister-in-law Marcia Bailey, dear aunts and uncles, and beloved friend, Janny Griffin.

She is survived by her husband Tom Campbell, sister Ginny Bartch, brothers Rod Bailey and Joe (Michael) Bailey, and sister-in-law Jo Bailey.

Her children:

-Susan Bruhl, son-in-law Bill, grandchildren Bailey Fischer, Will Fischer, Mollie D’Anna (Dave, great granddaughter Ruby), Zachary Bruhl (McKenzie) Malcolm Bruhl

-Lori Grant, grandchildren Natalie Newman (Noah), Mary Grant, Hendrie Grant (Lily), Gordy Grant, Frank Grant

-Stephen Loveland, daughter-in-law Jennifer, Archie Gallivan, Piper Gallivan, Bernard and Beatrice Holterhaus

-David Dragert, daughter-in-law Jennifer, Matthew Dragert, Grace Dragert, Simon Dragert

-Chris Campbell, grandchildren Jack, Holly

-Megan Sandberg (Steve), granddaughter Anna Rousseau (Paul)

-Tom Campbell (Kathy), grandchildren Abigail, Kaitlin

-Stephanie Miller (John), grandchildren Sam (Katie), Molly, Claire, Mari

Countless cousins, nieces, nephews and Godchildren.

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“Everyone has to have someone to talk to. Everyone has to have someone to love.”