The Liberty Gazette
March 21, 2023
Ely Air Lines
By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely
Linda: Liberty is a better place because of Mary Anne Campbell. We miss her, that kind, gracious, lady with her beaming, beautiful smile. When I think of Mary Anne, I can hear her voice, the distinctive wayin which she pronounced words, and I see those sparkling eyes. And that desk full of papers. Mail, magazines, notes, gifts, and who knows what else. “I’ve got to get this cleaned up,” she always seemed to say. But somehow, she was able to put her hands on what she wanted. Either that, or she’d call us back as soon as she found it, whatever it was.
Mike: Mary Anne was a dear personal friend. She kept several copies of all our books at the Chamber office. She was also a treasured friend to the community. And she was a supportive friend to the Liberty Municipal Airport. She encouraged us to keep on keepin’ on, to promote aviation and our little community airport, to keep putting it out there, front and center, so everyone would understand its significance.
She invited us to address the Chamber in March 2008 to discuss the economic impact of the Liberty Municipal airport on our city as well as it’s crucial role as part of the national airspace system.
She helped with logistics in the planning and execution of “Hope Flies,” the 2008 fund-raiser fly-in for a local family, the “Trick-or-Treat Poker Run” in 2009, and the “Valentine’s Treasure Hunt” in 2011.
Linda: I remember Bruce and Andrea joining their mother for the start of the poker run at the Liberty Municipal Airport. More than a hundred people had flown in to play the game. They came in Cessnas and Pipers, a Mooney, and aerobatic airplanes such as an SIAI Marchetti, an F-1 Rocket and several Van’s RVs – kit-built airplanes – some with a passenger or two. One airplane hauled a family of four. Participants in the event were children from as young as 19 months to senior citizens in their 80’s, and some even brought along the family dog. They came from Pearland, Sugar Land, Kingwood, Baytown, Houston, Conroe, and all around the Houston area. And there was Mary Anne, welcoming them and handed out goody bags full of coupons, fliers, brochures, and samples, promoting Liberty area businesses.
Mary Anne had had the highest bid for four VIP tickets to Wings Over Houston in that year’s Chamber “500” auction, and the family looked forward, as always, to the upcoming air show. Andrea, who already had a few hours of flight training, had the winning bid for a flight lesson at Flying Tigers at Ellington. She also snagged a ride for the poker run, and her mom was excited for her to get another chance to fly. She said it was good.
I can hear her say that, the way she pronounced “good.” It was a word she said often.
Til we see you again, dear Mary Anne, blue skies and tailwinds. You have the real VIP seat now.
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