Mary Elizabeth Pettis

Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Pettis, 68, of Bakersfield, California , passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026.

Mary was born on December 7, 1957, in Saint Joseph, Missouri to Kensel Hugh Miller and Frankie June (Stanislaus) Miller.

Mary devoted much of her life to a career in retail and was known for her strong work ethic and friendly spirit. She worked for  Walmart for many years before spending the last 15 years of her career with  TJ Maxx, where she built many lasting friendships.

Outside of work, Mary had a creative soul. She enjoyed painting and creating macramé pieces and was an avid collector of thimbles. Her collection earned her first-place honors at the Kern County Fair for multiple years. Above all else, Mary’s greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she loved deeply.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Shawn Anthony Pettis of Somerset, Pennsylvania and Shannon DeWayne Pettis of Bakersfield, California ; daughters-in-law Melissa Pettis and Naomi Pettis; grandchildren Miranda Pettis, Autumn Pettis, Payton Pettis, Emma Pettis, Kenson Pettis, Karter Pettis, and Kohen Pettis; and great-grandchildren Karlee Mae Parker, Layla Rue Pettis, and Houston Kelly Cerkoney.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kensel Hugh Miller and Frankie June (Stanislaus) Miller; her brothers, Lonnie Miller and Danny Miller; and her sisters, Judy Burgett, Teresa McCray, and Vicky Shriber.

Mary will be remembered for her kindness, creativity, dedication to her family, and the love she shared with everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

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