Mary McDonald Davis, RN, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Meredith, NH; passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 28, 2013. She was born on June 11, 1943 in Portland, Maine, daughter of the late Howard and Louise (Metcalf) McDonald.
Mary was a member of the last graduating class of South Paris High school in Maine and attended Laconia Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1965. Mary married her college sweetheart, Ian, on July 1, 1966 and worked as a nurse for many years at the Laconia Hospital. In 1973, Mary started what she considered her "biggest investment" when she became a stay at home mom to her two adored children, Jeff and Jenna, which was her true passion. In 1987, Mary started working as a nurse part-time, doing insurance physicals, while taking care of her family and assisting with her parents in their declining years.
In 2003, Mary and Ian bought her long dreamed of Florida house and became snowbirds in New Smyrna Beach.
Mary put her family and loved ones above all else, doing anything she could for everyone she could. Her joy was found around the table, feeding everyone until they were full and then handing them a piece of cake, often saying it was your own darned fault if you left her house hungry! Never one to sit still, Mary loved gardening, rug hooking, quilting, volunteering, yard saling, crafting and traveling. Mary went on many adventures, often in support of her kids and their crazy ideas, traveling to more than 40 states and four countries.
Mary is survived by her husband of 47 years, Stuart Ian Davis, of NSB, Florida and Meredith, NH; son Jeffrey M. Davis and his wife Karen of Meredith, NH; daughter Jennifer M. Moulton and her husband Corey of Laconia, NH; and beloved grandchildren Nick and Rachael. Mary had so many people who she loved and cared for and many, many friends she considered sisters and mothered every child with whom she came in contact.
A celebration of Mary's life and love will be held at Southeast Volusia Care Center, 4140 South Ridgewood Ave., Edgewater, FL on Friday, May 3, 2013 at 2 pm. Please come armed with stories to share! Further services will occur upon her family's return to NH.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the southeast Volusia Care Center in Edgewater, Florida or the Meredith Visiting Nurses Association in Meredith, NH. Both organizations were close to Mary's heart.
Mary was my other mother in NSB, I would love to chat with her picking up where we left off like old friends do. She was a truly giving person, and I remember the day when I was in NSB and my mother "Ginny" slipped one morning and fell. Here I am 49 years old wondering how to comfort my mother, how to help and as I am holding her and telling her it will be fine, I look up and see Mary's phone number written on the TV in my mothers room. I called Mary, knowing as my other mother, she would help. And she did, she told me to go about life, don't worry about your mom, she is a trooper she will be fine. And she was. Thanks Mary.
I love you more than words can tell.
Paul
Elaine, John, Mike & Brad....Cousins
God bless, R.I.P.!
Cousin George & Pat