Mary Croley

Mary Alice Avirett Croley

Mary Alice Avirett Croley, 86, of Quincy, Florida passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2015 surrounded by her family and caregivers. Mary Alice was born in rural Gadsden County, Florida on May 4, 1929. She was the daughter of the late Johnnie Roe and Nettie Nicholson Avirett.

Mary Alice Croley was raised in the Havana, Florida area and graduated from Havana High School. Following her school graduation, Mary Alice married Douglas M. Croley Sr. She became widowed at age 27 and was left to raise her three children with the help of her parents.

Mary Alice Croley was a Christian and a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church of Quincy, Florida. She enjoyed life, never met a stranger and helped many people along her life's way.

As the sole provider for her family, Mary Alice became a strong individual and a successful businessperson. During her working career years, she was bookkeeper for the Quincy Lumber Company, later office manager for the American Sumatra Tobacco Corporation, and then payroll manager for Florida State University. She later owned a retail business in Quincy before becoming a top producing real estate sales agent. After obtaining her Florida license, Mary Alice became a multi-line insurance agent with Doug Croley Insurance Services of Tallahassee, FL where she retired after 25 years of successful sales and service.

Mary Alice was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing the local golf courses even making a 121 yards hole-in-one at the age of 76. A true Florida native, Mary Alice was very proud of her pioneer heritage which dated back to Florida's U. S. territorial settlement. Mary Alice took keen interest in local and state government and was noted for her political activity. She enjoyed fishing, hunting and travel with her friends and family. Mary Alice wrote poetry, was a great cook of traditional Southern dishes and loved parties. Most of all, she loved her family and friends.

Mary Alice Croley is preceded in death by her husband Douglas M. Croley, Sr.; son James "Jimmy" Croley; brothers Willie Roe Avirett and Wilton Avirett; and, sisters Betty Avirett and Hattie Avirett Mitchell. She is survived by her sons Doug "Mac" Croley (Dianne) and son John "Johnny" Croley; two grandchildren Mary Katharine Croley Lawler (Will) and John "Will" Croley (Laura Beth); four great grandchildren Meghan Lawler, Claire Lawler, Wilson Croley and Caroline Croley; and, a sister Louise Avirett Bates (Ed). She leaves a loving and faithful special friend Lloyd "Hoot" Gibson, a lifelong best friend Odene Dean Reilly and a most caring and dearly close friend Angie Hearl.

Visitation with the Croley Family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday evening, November 16, 2015 in the Fellowship Hall of the Centenary United Methodist Church in Quincy, FL. The funeral service for Mary Alice Croley will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Quincy, FL. There will be a private family interment at the Nicholson - Freeman Cemetery near Havana, FL.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. Tallahassee Florida 32308.