Mary Headrick

Mary (Tilbury) Headrick passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023, at the age of 96 in Fresno, California. She was born to Vincent and Ellen Tilbury in Oxford, England, on August 8, 1926.

Mary met John Headrick of Canton, Ohio, in 1945, when he was stationed in Oxford, England, during World War II. After the war, Mary traveled to the States on the Queen Elizabeth to marry her love on June 12, 1947, in Michigan. The couple moved to Hanford, CA, in 1949 and had five children.

Mary was a wonderful mother to her children and grandchildren. God and family were her priorities. A kind and giving person, she was always there when help was needed. She loved fashion and healthy living. She was adventurous, always willing to learn and explore new things. She loved hosting visitors and was the first to offer a bed and a warm meal to a distant friend or relative who came to visit. After her children were mostly grown, she became a beautician and beauty instructor at a local beauty college, loved sewing and crafting and became very talented with clay and dollmaking. She was a member of a doll club in Oakhurst, CA, and would often fire her clay work at a neighbor’s kiln in Northfork, CA, and hand paint the items she created.

Mary loved to travel; she and her husband visited most states and many foreign countries. In 1984, after John retired, they moved to their family cabin in Northfork and bought a beach house in Santa Barbara. They spent many happy years living between their home in the mountains and their home at the beach.

Her children and grandchildren remember her best for her sweet, calm tone of voice, her love for wine and English tea, her sewing and craft skills, and her interest in braiding long hair. They have fond recollections of their times together with her at Santa Barbara and Bass Lake and will hold on dearly to those memories.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers and staff from Cedarbrook Memory Care Community, Fresno, for the wonderful care they provided over the years.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, John, of 65 years, and her eldest brother, Eric Tilbury. She is survived by her brother John (Carol) Tilbury of Fresno; children, Carolyn (Mike) Koelewyn of Hanford; Mark (Kathy) Headrick of Fresno; James (Vanessa) Headrick of Eagle, Idaho; Jeanette (Gary) Brazil of Hanford; and Joanne Gordon of Santa Barbara; ten grandchildren, Richard (late wife Michelle) Pierce; Jason (Saul) Martin; Ryan Headrick; Jarrett (Amber) Headrick; Madelyn Cordeiro; Tiffany Headrick; Derek (McKenzi) Brazil; Kaitlyn (Justin) Brasil; Trevor (Maddie) Gordon; Spencer Gordon; fourteen great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she cherished.

A private memorial service in Mary’s honor will take place on Thursday, February 23, 2023, in Fresno, California. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Alzheimer’s Association Fresno Regional Office 7461 N First St, Ste 103 Fresno Ca 93720 : Donations in memory of Mary Headrick

Alzheimer’s Association Fresno Regional Office 7461N First St Ste103 Fresno, CA 93720. Instruct to put Mary Headrick’s name either on the check or identified with the donation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Headrick family.