Individual Details

Maryalice "Bubs" FAIRBANK

(30 Apr 1925 - 28 Dec 2017)

She met Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House when she was a teenager and it made a big impression on her. It was one of the stories Maryalice Miner liked to tell customers at her Miner’s Big Stuff Doll & Toy Store, at the entrance to downtown Ocean Springs for decades. Maryalice was with her parents at a While House ceremony, and being young, was prepared to snicker because the first lady was homely, but she paused when she told the story because what happened was not a childish snicker. She was totally captivated by Eleanor, when the first lady looked deep into her eyes. Maryalice later married John Miner, who was at the White House that day too, and together they ran one of the most consistently successful small businesses in the city. Maryalice Miner died Thursday morning. She was 92. As they grew up, her husband became a naval architect on the team that developed unmanned vertical-launch missiles. She developed her own style of swim lessons and early-childhood development classes. They were lauded in 2015 for 60 years of service on the Coast with the Chamber of Commerce community events, for building the Aquatic Club in Pascagoula in 1964 that later moved to Ocean Springs, for the work they did in organizing the Gulf Coast YMCA and especially for efforts in swimming and water safety, which was her specialty. John Miner died in February at the age of 91. The Miners are most-known for the toy store they started when they were in their 60s. They ran it for almost 30 years. When they turned 90 together in 2015, the city threw a birthday party for them. At the time, Maryalice told the Sun Herald, “I’m half excited and half embarrassed,” but she had her dress picked out, one that was dynamite blue. She knew how to have fun at a party. About her work, Maryalice Miner said, toys are a way to interact with people, to develop relationships. They are key to a child’s learning process. Just two years ago, Maryalice was working six days a week, attending morning Chamber gatherings and other events at night. She inspired other downtown business owners. Paige Riley, with Hillyer House, told the Sun Herald, “Some mornings I come in to open, wondering how I’m going to make it, and I look across and see her at the front of her shop sweeping, in her blue linen suit with her lipstick on. It gets me going.” Maryalice Miner had known her husband since the 7th grade, and as a couple, they were almost inseparable. Her daughter, Merileigh Miner Furr, said, “It was the most beautiful love story. They were holding hands (when he died), even with her stroke. Up until the end he was the ultimate gentleman, professing his love and that he would see her later.” Her son Steve Miner said his mother passed away in her sleep, with no pain. She had had a stroke, but was gracious, even being paralyzed for more than a year. “We’ll all miss her joy and her enthusiasm,” he said. “She lived a great life and touched a lot of people’s lives. She had a good time raising three boys and a daughter — all taller than her — but she kept us all in line.” Furr said her mother died peacefully in the morning hours and when asked yesterday if she had a happy heart, she nodded yes.
Sun Herald, Biloxi, Mississippi, December 28, 2017

Events

Birth	30 Apr 1925	San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
Marriage	5 Jun 1946	New London, New London County, CT - John Hanson Kennard MINER
Death	28 Dec 2017	Ocean Springs, Jackson County, MS
Burial		Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, Harrison County, MS

Families

Spouse	John Hanson Kennard MINER (1925 - 2017)
Child	Living

Father	Leigh Cole FAIRBANK (1889 - 1966)
Mother	May ROMIG (1890 - 1963)

Notes

Death

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. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) - Ocean Springs has lost an iconic businesswoman and friend to children and families. Maryalice Miner passed away Thursday at the age of 92. For three decades, Miner owned and operated Miner's Big Stuff Toy Store with her husband, John, who passed away earlier this year at age 91. The couple had been married for 70 years. Maryalice was also just as well known for her passion to teach children to swim. As a young woman, she found the body of a boy on the beach who had drowned. Out of that tragedy, a mission was born. She taught generations of children to swim, giving lessons both in her private home and at the indoor pool at the Blossman Family YMCA. In 2011, the pool was named the Miner Natatorium in her honor. John and Maryalice Miner were both 80 years old when their Lovers Lane home was washed away by Hurricane Katrina. Despite the loss, they were both determined to rebuild their home and start their lives anew. Ten years after the storm, the couple revealed to WLOX News that their store was the glue that held their dreams of rebuilding together. And despite their losses, Katrina actually strengthened their bond.