Mary Elizabeth Tomlinson

Mary grew up in Ironton, Ohio, the third eldest of seven children and was valedictorian of her high school class. After graduation, she moved to Columbus, Ohio, to find work and reside with her sister, where she met her husband of 51 years, Jack W. Tomlinson. After a short engagement and Jack’s graduation from the Ohio State University, they married and moved from Columbus to Melbourne in 1958.

Mary’s family was her pride and joy, and she devoted her life to raising their four children. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader, volunteer for her children’s many activities, and Sunday School teacher for the majority of her adult life. Her husband Jack also served as both the Deacon of Benevolence and an Elder for several decades at the Melbourne Church of Christ, and Mary opened their home to many needing a place to stay or get back on their feet over the years.

After their children had graduated high school, Mary obtained her real estate license and was a realtor with National Realty for over 25 years. She enjoyed working with both friends looking for new homes and families relocating to the area. Several times she was an annual top seller for the Suntree office.

Mary had a zest for life, enjoyed rooting for her favorite football teams (Ohio State Buckeyes, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Bucs), reading, word puzzles, singing, gambling, and talking. She’d never miss an opportunity to spend time with family, friends, and neighbors. She was a wonderful grandmother to eight grandchildren, helping care for many of them while parents worked or finished college.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Jack in 2010, her siblings Martha King, Ruth Howard, Daniel King, Ralph King, and Sharon Brooks, her parents Ralph Edison and Agnes Dorothy Farmer King, and Harland and Doris Tomlinson Hale.

Her incredible kindness will be missed by her four children and their spouses, Jack and Colleen Tomlinson of Brevard, North Carolina, Van and Jen Tomlinson of Orlando, Florida, Chip and Holly Carothers and April Price of Melbourne, Florida; eight grandchildren, Jacy Tomlinson, Carson and Aidan Eelman and Connor Tomlinson, Laurel Elizabeth, Heather, and Sage Carothers, Abigail Price Godwin and husband Will Godwin, as well as her beloved sister Carol Harmon of Ironton, Ohio.

The family will receive friends at a Memorial Celebration at 10:30 am, Saturday, October 22nd at the Melbourne Church of Christ, with lunch and fellowship following.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Melbourne Church of Christ, 810 Hollywood Blvd., W. Melbourne, FL 32904 or the Clinic of My Hope in Honduras [Clinica De Esperanza, Attention: Gayle Davidson, PO Box 120205, Melbourne, FL 32912].

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FloridaMemorialFH-Gardens.com for the Tomlinson family.