Mary Fae Dennis, 89, died peacefully at home in Ocala, FL, on Dec. 12, 2012. Visitation is 3-7 p.m. Sunday. Service is 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Gordon.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, William C. and Kay Finley Dennis of Ocala, FL; a daughter Susan Dennis Skipper of Lubbock, TX; and eight grandchildren: Tony, John, Jessica, Will, Tucker, Acelyn, Dustin, and Amanda, as well as, her 5 great grandchildren, Austin, Gwynne, Grace, Piper, and Sydney.
Born on May 8, 1923, in Electra, Texas, to Jesse and Alma Tucker. The family settled in Gordon, where she and her brother, Thurman Tucker, were raised and where she graduated from Gordon High School in May 1940. She attended Texas State College for Women in Denton, and subsequently John Tarleton College in Stephenville, where she studied Home Economics.
Mary Fae met the man who would become her husband of 53 years, William C. Dennis (Bill), at a dance at the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells in 1941 and they were married on Nov. 30, 1942. Shortly after marrying, they moved to a military base in Ft Lauderdale, FL, and from 1942 to 1946 her husband served at several posts in the United States and later in the Pacific Theatre (Philippines).
With her husband overseas, Mary Fae and her young son moved to Lubbock to be closer to family and she went to work for her father-in-law in his newspaper business.
Her husband was separated from the service with the rank of captain in 1946 and the family decided to settle in Lubbock where he entered the printing business as a partner in Dennis Bros. printing. They went on to raise their two children there and Mary Fae was active in many civic, church and charity organizations including the PTA, the Lubbock Women's Club, and the Garden Club. She was also a long-standing member of the First Baptist Church where she loved to listen to the choir and also taught Sunday school.
She was an accomplished homemaker, a great cook and a talented seamstress. Her passions included gardening, reading, and traveling. She loved the ocean and the beach. She enjoyed many wonderful trips with her husband, children and grandchildren to places such as Argentina, El Salvador, Brazil, Jamaica, Bahamas and the Dominican Republic and they will always treasure those wonderful memories.
Mary Fae moved to Ocala, FL, in 2007 to live with her son and daughter-in-law. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend and she will forever be missed.
Condolences may be left at www.bcbfuneralhome.com.
Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home
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