On March 5, 2025, Mary Ellen Thompson (nee Tier), devoted sister of Margaret Tier Everett and her husband John Thomas Everett and John Barton Tier, III. and his wife Roberta Mary MacKenzie; loving aunt of John Tier Everett and his wife Jennifer Noel Knox, Emily Tier Everett and her husband Stephen L. Hunyadi II. and Robert Barton Tier and his wife Robin Foster, loving great aunt of Garrett Michael Tier and his wife Danielle Reeder, Addison Elizabeth Tier, Lila Grace Everett, John Stephen Hunyadi, Nora Elizabeth Everett, Elle Katherine Everett, William Stephen Hunyadi, and Liv Margaret Everett; loving great great aunt of Amelia Lynn Tier.

Mary Ellen grew up in the Gardenville neighborhood of Baltimore City and attended St. Anthony of Padua Grade School and Eastern High School, where she was the President of the Projection Club.  She graduated in 1967. Mary Ellen is best described as having a big heart. One of her friends said that her heart was as big as all outdoors.  She had a big heart for her family - her sister, brother, nieces, nephews, cousins, and the dear ones who have gone before us, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Her Facebook cover photo is a picture of her with her grandfather taken on the beach at Ocean City.  As a matter of fact, this is her only photo on Facebook.  The annual Ocean City vacation was a famous family event and is remembered fondly for the photos proclaiming Lippold Beach with cousins, aunts, uncles and friends crowded around.

Mary Ellen had a big heart for her National Federation of The Blind family.  In about 1985 she followed her then boss attorney Marc Maurer from his private practice to the National Federation of the Blind and stayed for the rest of her life.  She loved and believed in the National Federation of the Blind.  She made friends easily and developed strong bonds with many.  She officially retired from the payroll in 2010 after 25 yeas in various roles, but she remained active in the many projects of the Federation that she loved.  Always active, always serving and always involved.

Mary Ellen had a big heart for children.  She wanted but didn't have children.  Her love found other outlets.  She operated a small day care center in her home during her early marriage years.  She was later a devoted foster mom to three children at separate times.  Andrea, Anthony and Sydney.  She loved playing make-believe with children, particularly with her nieces & nephews, Robert, John and Emily and later her grandnieces & nephews, Garrett, Addison, Lila, John, Nora, Elle, William and Liv.

Mary Ellen had a big heart for her friends at church and at the Parkview Senior Community on Maiden Choice Lane in Catonsville where she lived for 10 years after selling her Catonsville home  Here, she was known as the friend to go to when there was a sewing project or an item that needed mending.

Mary Ellen's big heart found an outlet in poetry, writing and sketching.  Her favorite book was The Best Loved Poems of the American People selected by Hazel Felleman. She carried a fabric-covered and well-worn copy of this in her backpack for idle moments.  She wrote roughly 75 poems that were on typed paper, 15 that were hand-written and notes for many more.  In addition, she wrote 6 short stories and one children's book that is written and 50% illustrated with her sketches.  Untitled, it is the story of love and friendship on a strawberry vine. At home, Mary Ellen settled in to relax with her cat (there were many over her lifetime) and her extensive DVD collection.  Vintage classics were her favorite.

The family will receive friends at the family owned Ruck-Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Road (at beltway exit 26) on Thursday, March 13, 2025, 3-7 PM. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, 11 AM at the Stella Maris Chapel, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: The National Federation of the Blind, 200 West Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 or https://nfbmd.org