The Parish Day School, now known as the Parish Episcopal School was originally founded in September 1972 by Mary Loving Blair at the request of the Rector of the Church of the Transfiguration at that time, Father Niles.  Their main goal was to establish a private Episcopal School with the Dallas Diocese teaching the Episcopal doctrines of the church in a small and highly stimulating learning environment for young children. This was accomplished with no funding for startup and and only the existing church buildings at the time for the schools use. Mary was asked to start the school in June 1972 and had only three months of preparation to hire faculty, establish curriculum, and obtain school furniture and supplies.  This would be quire a feat for just anyo9ne, but Mary rose to the occasion with her usual enthusiasm and opened The Parish Day School to Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade students in September 1972. Mary established a School Board and borrowed $5,000 from the bank, with her goal being to leave the school debt free when she left her position, needless to say, she more than succeeded. Her plan was to add one grade per year until reaching the 6th grade, another goal she saw to it fruition during her tenure. The church offices were the original school building and the current Youth Center was used as the gymnasium and cafeteria.  Mary's office furniture consisted only of a telephone, folding chair and card table. Because of the limited funding of the school, Mary had to wear many hats, that of Recycler, picking u scrap paper and recycling it in the classroom; Bargain Shopper, for school snacks and supplies; as well as the important job of head of School, hiring new staff and all the duties involved with that position. The reward for her labors was a happy and successful faculty and student body and a "PAID IN FULL" notice from the bank. She agreed to serve as the interim Head of the School until a suitable replacement could be found. Obviously, it was not easy to find a replacement, as her "interim" service as head of School lasted for nine years from 1972-1981. Finally, a search committee was formed to look for a full-time head of the school and after looking at many candidates, they found a perfect match in Gloria Snyder. Gloria and her husband were members of the church and Gloria agreed to take on the job. Upon her retirement, Mary fulfilled her lifelong desire to travel as she toured Europe, Asia, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Hawaii with church and SMU Friends.

... from the 2004 Panther

Items

• Yearbooks "The Panther"
• Link to: The Parish Episcopal School Website

In Memoriam