Mary Elizabeth Russell passed peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday March 3, 2026 after a year-long battle with lung cancer. She was 77 years old. She is survived by her son Benjamin Russell and his wife Tani, Mary’s precious grand children, Thea age 7, Wyatt age 4, and Owen age 2, all from Moose Lake, MN.  Also, her nephew, William “Rusty” Russell and his wife Kristy of Miami, Fl, her niece, Mary  “Bebe” Zalaskus and her husband Kenny of Gainesville, VA, 6 grand nephews, 4 great grand nephews, 2 sisters-in-law, and many friends, colleagues, and co-workers.

Mary was preceded in death by her father Leo Russell, Sr., her mother Mary Kathleen Russell and her big brother and business partner Leo Russell, Jr. Mary was born in Bluefield, WV on January 10, 1949 and moved to Charleston, WV as a young girl. Mary graduated from Charleston High School Class of 1965, and then attended the University of Cincinnati, graduating with a degree in Interior Design. In 1976, she and her brother Leo opened Contemporary Galleries in Kanawha City. It was a retail store selling contemporary and Scandinavian residential furniture but soon grew to include commercial furniture and a design division. The business operated from 1976 to 2023.

Mary was a very talented commercial designer and, for many years, was the only accredited ASID designer (American Society of Interior Design) in the state of West Virginia. She partnered in a business that employed hundreds of people and served thousands of clients over a span of 47 years. She worked tirelessly for decades tracking and maintaining contacts for her high school CHS Class of 1965 reunions, and seriously tried to stay in contact with everyone she ever met. She raised a devoted son who is a loving husband and father, she cared for her parents till they each passed away, she was a business woman, a community volunteer, a caring dog and cat owner, a loving sister and a loyal friend. She was loved and will be missed by so very many. Her kindness wouldn’t allow her to see the negatives in people, as she always simply wanted to make the world around her a more beautiful place.

Her family and friends will gather for visitation at Snodgrass Funeral Home in South Charleston from 10:00 to 11:00am on Tuesday March 10, 2026. Burial will be in Princeton, WV at Roselawn Memorial Gardens at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to make donations in Mary’s name to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary. Arrangements are in care of Snodgrass Funeral Home.