Mary Margaret Haley Leavitt "The Flag Lady"

Mary Margaret Haley Leavitt, affectionately known as “The Flag Lady” passed peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loving family in the early morning of December 4, 2023. Born to Walter Haley and Irene Showers on January 23, 1936. At thirteen she lost her father to cancer, deeply impacting the woman she became. Asked by her mother to drop out of school to help with finances, Mary worked three part time jobs while finishing high school as a North High Polar Bear. She was a most resilient, passionate, hard-working and loyal woman. It was at North High school that she met the love of her life. She married her high school sweetheart, Thomas Benson Leavitt in 1956. She often said he was the wind under her wings. Mary is survived by her three children, Lori Leavitt Watson (Michael), Andrew “Andy” Benson Leavitt (Brenda) and Charles “Charlie” Haley Leavitt (Janet); grandchildren. Jason (Heather) Ogle, Grant (Colleen) Watson, Thomas (Kate) Watson, Tyler (Rachel) Leavitt, Harrison (Linnie) Watson, Samuel Leavitt and Haley Leavittt; Seven wonderful great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Finally, brother-in-law Mac Benson Leavitt and sister-in-law Barbara Leavitt Franklin. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Robert Stevenson, & sisters Rosalyn Archer & Sharon Norman. Trained as a legal secretary, Mary worked for Arthur I. Vorys of The Vorys Firm for a number of years before moving to Illinois. Driven by her love of country she began selling the American flag out of the trunk of her car in 1979. She was dubbed “The Flag Lady” by the Chicago Sun Times. In 1980 she moved back to Columbus and began her business as “The Flag Lady. Mary was actively involved in the Clintonville community, loved The Ohio State Buckeyes, ran for Columbus City Council and was a founding member of the National Independent Flag Dealers Association (NIFDA), was a long time member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), as well as a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR). She led the pledge of allegiance for two presidential candidates at their nominating conventions. She was also a member of Grace Polaris church. Mary loved God, her family, her country and friends with all that she was. There will be calling hours for those who wish to offer their condolences on Thursday December 7, 2023 from 4p - 8p at Rutherford Corbin Funeral Home 515 High Street Worthington, Ohio. A service will follow at Rutherford Corbin Funeral Home on December 8, 2023 at 10am followed by a graveside ceremony for family and close family friends at Greenlawn Cemetery where her body will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Project Shiloh: https://flagladyusa.com/pages/project-shiloh Buckeye Cruise for Cancer: www.buckeyecruise.com/fundaneed/ Honor Flight Columbus: https://www.honorflightcmh.org/. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Rutherford Corbin Funeral Home Worthington, Ohio is honored to care for the Leavitt family.

Mary Margaret Haley Leavitt "The Flag Lady"

January 23, 1936 - December 4, 2023