Mary Alice Marley

Mary Alice Marley (Fleming Island, FL) passed away Friday, May 31, 2024. Born to Parker and Theresa (McCarthy) Lawson on December 11, 1937, in Hackensack, NJ. Married to Ronald Marley on July 1, 1961.

She graduated from Syracuse University in 1959 and was a Sigma Kappa. She began teaching gifted children in Buffalo, NY. after graduating. Once married, she turned her attention and energy to raising her children and taking care of her husband. She did volunteer work throughout her adult life at her children’s schools and activities.  She brought joyful enthusiasm for working with children to each school community where she volunteered: Ft. Campbell, KY, Annandale, VA, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, Parkville, MO, Mountain Top, PA, Ft. Dix, NJ, Indianapolis, IN. She quickly became a favorite volunteer in the local schools for her willingness to step in wherever she was needed. She copied, answered phones, monitored playgrounds but was most appreciated for her ability to entertain and teach any group of students about Southeast Asia, in which she would bring in slides and artifacts and could tailor the material to several subjects, including history, geography, culture, art, language, commerce.

She worked tirelessly with the Officers Wives Club at the numerous military bases where her husband was stationed over his 30-year career. She planned and hosted many well received activities. She was a charming and gracious host who loved gatherings of friends and family.

In 1980, she began working for the IRS in Indianapolis, IN and continued working for the IRS when they moved to Jacksonville, FL. In her mid-50s, she learned braille to better understand the sight impaired employees she was tasked with training.

Her volunteer work expanded in retirement to include the Clothes Closet, JAPA, YMCA/BASCA. She was a lifelong devoted Catholic and an active member at Sacred Heart Catholic church on Fleming Island. She found great joy in her work with CCW (Council of Catholic Women), CRHP, and the Homebound Ministry. She knitted prayer shawls for cancer patients, sewed quilts for the homeless, threw holiday parties for the mentally and physically challenged at YMCA/BASCA.  Her life was filled with service to others.

She loved to read, attend live theatre performances, and was passionate about crossword puzzles.

She will be remembered for her sense of humor and witty one liners and retorts. Her optimism was infectious. She will be remembered as funny and fun-loving, as a giving and loving mother, grandmother, and friend, as intelligent and thoughtful, and as empathetic and charitable. All who knew her loved her.

She is preceded in death by her beloved brother, Jack Lawson, by her husband, Ronald Marley, her parents, and by her son-in-law Wayne Watts.

Survived by her daughters Mary (Tracy) Watts and Christine Marley-Frederick, by her son-in-law Bryan Frederick, by her grandchildren Elizabeth Shaver, Alex Khan, Samuel Watts, Parker Frederick, and Lucas Frederick and by her grandchildren-in-law John Shaver and Jessica Khan.

Memorial services will be held June 19, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 7190 US-17 S, Fleming Island, FL. A reception will follow. The burial will be at the National Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL on June 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers consider donating to The Way Free Medical Clinic, Inc. 479 Houston St. Green Cove Springs, Fl 32043.