Maryalice Fairbank Miner

Maryalice Fairbank Miner, affectionately known as Bubs to many (short for Bubbles), passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 28, 2017 and has been reunited with her beloved husband of 71 years, John H. K. Miner. Bubs, Bubbles, or Maryalice … by any name, was in love with life. She greeted each day with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to accomplish something. She exuded an infectious effervescence and spirit that matched her nickname. Maryalice was born in San Antonio, Texas on April 30, 1925, the daughter of Brigadier General Leigh Cole Fairbank and May Romig Fairbank. The family moved several times from duty station to duty station, settling in Washington D.C., where she met John in the 7th grade at Western High School. She attended Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. Bubs and John became sweethearts and later married on John’s graduation day from the Coast Guard Academy in 1946. In 1952, Maryalice and John moved to Pascagoula, MS. John went to work at Ingalls and Maryalice sunk her energies and talents into community activities by organizing a senior girl scout troop and a synchronized swimming team. In 1960 Bubs organized and directed the PasPoint Children’s Theater while also appearing in stage productions at the PasPoint Little Theater. She loved singing and performing. A pivotal event in her life was finding the body of a young boy who drowned at the Pascagoula beach. After this emotional experience, it became her mission to teach every child how to swim, how to be safe in and around the water, and how to have fun in the water. Bubs taught children to swim for over 60 years. In 2016, she was still actively teaching at age 91, when she had a severe stroke. Her last students were the great grandchildren of her first students. This will be her legacy, one that spans generations and will be continued by her daughter, Merileigh, who has taught at her side for 40 years. In addition to teaching swimming, she formed and coached 4 competitive swimming teams, she had a water ballet team and a competitive diving team. She organized water safety clinics and competitive swimming clinics bringing the U.S. Olympic swimming coaches George Haines and Doc Councilman, Olympic diving coach Dick Kimball, to the Gulf Coast. She learned and studied the best in technique and training. She was fully committed. Her book, Water Fun, was published in 1982 with a forward by Olympic coach George Haines. Bubs started teaching and coaching at the Pascagoula Recreation Center and the Longfellow House. In 1965 she became founding director and coach of the Aquatic Club in Pascagoula where she taught swimming and coached state championship swimming and diving teams. The family moved to Ocean Springs in 1969. She expanded her swimming and coaching endeavors in pools across the MS Gulf Coast from the LaFont Inn in Pascagoula to the Gulfport Yacht Club. In 1972, Bubs conceived of a place where kids could ride their bikes or walk after school and engage in constructive physical endeavors such as dance, gymnastics, and of course… swimming. Bubs and John built the Marmin Aquatics Center which included the first competitive swimming pool in the state of Mississippi to be certified by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for national Jr. Olympic record meets. This same pool was recently re-dedicated as the Maryalice and John Miner Natatorium at the Blossman Family YMCA in Ocean Springs. Bubs created an athletic kindergarten that she named “Big Stuff by Bubs” which she taught from the mid-70’s to the early 90’s. In 1987, Maryalice and John opened Miner’s Toy Store on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs, which is now beginning its 4th decade. It is here they established themselves as the iconic champions and cheerleaders of Ocean Springs small business, and where they immersed themselves, together, full time and 125%. In 2015, John and Maryalice were recipients of the John R. Blossman Humanitarian Award for lifetime service. Above all else, Bubs treasured her relationships with her family. She was proud to be friends with her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, her nieces, nephews, and their children. She was always ready to cook a meal and celebrate a holiday. The love of her life, John, passed away this past February. They were holding hands and exchanging beautiful words of love. She told him that he was her “OAO” (One and Only). Her spirit continued to burn bright as she passed the baton to their daughter, Merileigh Furr, who has taken the helm of both the toy store and swimming instruction. A special thank you to all that given care and support to Bubs over the last 18 months since her stroke, especially Raimunda Carlson, who has nurtured her every day with her special soup and love. Maryalice was preceded in death by her father, Brigadier General Leigh Cole Fairbank, and mother, May Romig Fairbank. She was also preceded in death by her brother Leigh Cole Fairbank, Jr., and her sister Justine Fairbank Welch. She is survived by her sons David Miner (Barbara), Dr. Steven Miner (Debbie), John Miner (Geri), and her daughter Merileigh Furr (Theron), her grandchildren Michael Miner (Nicole), Robert Miner (Jamie), Elizabeth St. John (Rob), Melissa Miner, Stephanie Miner, John Miner, Richard Furr, Alice Furr and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was loved by many and will be missed by many. She is now with her One and Only, John, just as it should be. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The service will begin at noon. Flowers may be sent to St. John’s Episcopal Church, or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs and the Blossman Family Branch of the MS Gulf Coast YMCA.