Viola Faye Mahan

Viola Faye Mahan 

July 3, 1939- February 7, 2025

Viola Faye Patrick, daughter of Ancie Belle Bond and Allen (Pat) Bryan Patrick of Gulfport departed this life after a long illness. Faye was married to Robert (Bob) Mahan for over 63 years. Bob and her sister Patty predeceased her in death. She is survived by her children, Robin, Melanie, Ryan "Bubba" and Robert; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild; brother, Tom; sister, Jackie and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins will miss her as well.

Faye also opened her heart to the many people who entered her life through working at her garden center, “The Other Shop.” Many of these became part of an extended family - daughters and sons of the heart. Faye especially loved planning big Thanksgiving celebrations with this family included; sometimes the dinner had to be served in the greenhouse to seat everyone at the table!

Faye knew the value of hard work and lived that value daily for as long as she was able. She especially loved the start of each spring with the bright flowers and bedding plants of a new season. Many Gulf Coast residents have a basket, planter, or plant from her, and she would be pleased to be remembered for the work she put in helping her customers and friends get just the right combination for the porch, a gift for a loved one, or a special party. There are likely hundreds of cuttings of houseplants that she grew in homes and businesses all along the coast. Late winter and early spring meant Mardi Gras, featuring purple and yellow pansies; spring meant Mother’s Day baskets; and summer was hibiscus, hibiscus, hibiscus! Fall meant mums and clay pumpkins and Jack-O-lanterns while winter always meant poinsettias. Faye was very particular about Poinsettias and had firm views on colors (looking at you plant glitter)!

Faye loved her family - all her family. To those related by love and care, she tried to show love for them as well as the large extended family of relations. She had always requested photographs she could “keep forever” and hold in her hand rather than those sent by email or on a phone screen in which, “Nobody can really see anyone on that!” 

Faye enjoyed reading, old movies, and a roast beef po boy on “real” French bread (if it didn’t leave flaky crumbs all over her shirt it wasn’t quite right). She would happily watch Mark Harmon as Gibbs everyday. She loved poetry, and she danced ballet in her teens.

Dogs and cats were always a part of her life, and the family regrets she could not have a dog and a cat or two on the foot of her bed in the last days. She would have thought that was the best way to leave this life: in the company of beloved pets. She spoke often of the enjoyment books about animals brought her. She often recalled the 1940’s All Dogs Go to Heaven by Beth Brown and All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott. Those two books were particularly well loved. Faye was a firm believer in the adage of life hereafter must include dogs and cats; if not, she did not want to go there. Faye loved all animals, but dogs held a special place in her heart. Her dogs ate and drank from freshly washed bowls and usually napped on the bed, couch, chair, clean clothes, bathmat, in the doorway, in front of the kitchen sink and always near her feet. She kept old blankets and towels so she could wash the “dog blankets” often so the dogs could have fresh linens and in case a stray showed up needing care.

May she rest in the stars with the love of those that went before her and the pets she loved surrounding her: Bebe, Penny, Buttons, Lady, Sam, Cookie, Percy, Jack, Squeaky, TC, Bear, Buck, Reddog and so many others. Faye would think it a wonderful gift to adopt a shelter or rescue animal or to donate the gift of time or supplies in her memory.

Robin would also like to express special thanks to her siblings who took on the daily responsibility of caring for their parents in the long goodbye of illness and aging. Melanie, for their father, Bob, and Bubba and Robert for their mother, Faye, with help from cousin Peggy and Faye’s brother, Tom.

We wish you rest and peace, Mama, Mom, Mother, Memaw Faye, Grandma, Nana, Miss Faye, Sister, Aunt Faye and Viola Faye. We love and miss you and hope you have plenty of wagging tails and purring rumbles to be with you.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family. An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com