Mary Ellen Irizarry, boldly known as "Shotgun," passed away on March 29, 2026, at the age of 62 after an extended illness at the Hospice House in Poland, OH. Originally from Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Jack Smith & the late Pauline Kissinger Smith, was born on May 29, 1963. Mary relocated years later making Youngstown her home.

Mary lived life to the fullest alongside her partner of many years, LaMark Gore. She cherished her time as a vendor at Four Seasons Flea Market, where she built lasting friendships and was always making more.

Mary is survived by seven children: Tina Irizarry, Eddie Irizarry, Clyde Irizarry, Ruben Irizarry, Donald Meadows-Graves, Reverend Allan (Antoinette) Irizarry-Graves Sr., and Ryan Meadows-Graves, as well as many grandchildren, who will carry her legacy forward.

As her children reflected upon Mary’s intricate life, they admittedly acknowledge there are no few lines which can truly capture the lifetime, as well as the many wild and wonderful layers that made her uniquely Mary. This was not simply a rhetorical exploration. The truth is, they cannot, for how does a memory last forever.

Honoring Mary’s request, there will be no public services. Mary’s spirit will be missed but never forgotten.

At this time of intimate need and personal loss, the family of Mary Ellen Irizarry elected to entrust the Ministry of Comfort & Care, along with Transitional After-Care Arrangements to the J. E. Washington Funeral Services, 2234 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio, 330.782.8500.