Mary Elizabeth Mowbray

Mary Elizabeth Davis Mowbray of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, died on July 5th, 2017. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Melvin, and is survived by her daughter Cecilia (Carlos) and sons Robert, Alan (Teresa), and John (Amy) as well as her granddaughter Aarin Mowbray and grandsons Benjamin, Jacob, and David Mowbray.

Mary was born in Fox Harbour, Newfoundland, on February 2nd, 1923. At the age of 4, she lost her mom, but was cared for by a loving network of family and friends who lived along the shores of the small fishing village. Her Roman Catholic faith was central to her life and sustained her throughout her 94 years. Her stories of growing up in a place that centered on the sea and the deep connections a hard-scrabble life fosters always thrilled and delighted family and friends. Whether it was skipping ice pans with her twin brother Bill and friends, baking bread with her cousins, or helping the fishermen as they came in to port, mom had a way of telling a story that would keep one on the edge of one's seat.

She was an elegant and intelligent woman. She could quote long sections of many of the great English works of literature as well as poems in their entirety. (She would remind us regularly that she was a British Subject, not a Canadian, as Newfoundland didn't become part of Canada until 1949). Despite growing up in a remote village, she was cosmopolitan in her outlook and always had a love and appreciation for other peoples and cultures.
Her glamorous looks certainly jigged (Newfie term for setting a hook into something) Melvin Mowbray. They would marry after a year of courtship, and go on to enjoy almost 68 years of companionship together. She grew to be a first rate Navy wife, making a home wherever her husband was assigned. In fact, within six years of marriage, she was sailing across the Atlantic with three young children to join her husband in Port Lyautey, Morocco, an experience she always recalled with fondness.

She found her passion early and was an educator her entire life. After settling in Jacksonville in 1957, she would go on to teach at St. Matthew's Catholic School for 29 years. While adhering to the strict curriculum and code of conduct one might expect in a Catholic school, she always found a way to include levity and to inspire a passion for learning in her students.
Her favorite prayer was the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, which perfectly captured her compassionate nature. While reserved and unassuming, she was a fierce competitor; she was a wicked Scrabble player and would not go lightly on any challenger, especially her children. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and word jumbles.

In keeping with their dedication to learning and military service, she and her husband created the Melvin M. and Mary E. Mowbray Scholarship at UNF which provides financial assistance for active duty and retired military enlisted personnel and their dependents. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations of any amount be made to their scholarship fund. (Please contact Bob Buehn, Director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center at UNF, at robert.buehn@unf.edu, to make donations).

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Jacksonville Beach (435 1st Ave N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250) on July 31st at 11AM with a luncheon/memorial immediately afterwards at the church's community center.

"As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood, we stand;
Their prayer we raise to Heaven above,
God guard thee, Newfoundland

God guard thee, God guard thee,
God guard thee, Newfoundland".
- Ode to Newfoundland

God guard thee, mom.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.