Mary Louise Guptill

Mary Lou was born on May 8, 1926 to George Carl Crook and Ruth Cora Miller Crook in Jackson Heights, New York City, New York. Growing up, she took piano lessons, and took dance classes, including some with Martha Graham (who, according to Mary Lou, declared that she was “not flexible enough to be a dancer”). She excelled in academics in New York City Public Schools and was Valedictorian of Bayside High School in Bayside, Queens, New York City, Class of 1944. While in High School she also participated in the High School Victory Corps, a volunteer organization to assist in the war efforts during World War II.

She met Clarence William (Bill) Guptill, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, as a child. During the War, she corresponded with him while he was deployed overseas as a member of the United States Marine Corps. Upon his medical evacuation from the South Pacific, he visited the Crook family, and they became engaged. Bill could not get leave to travel to New York so Mary Lou, now nineteen years old, traveled by train from New York City to Klamath Falls, Oregon and was married to Bill on July 18, 1945. Upon Bill’s discharge in 1946, they returned to New York City. They later settled in Wilmington, North Carolina, then New Bern, North Carolina. She worked as a bookkeeper for many years before she retired. After retiring, she remained in New Bern and volunteered her time at the New Bern Civic Theater and Trinity United Methodist Church.

Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents and her sister, June Elizabeth Crook Leonard; and husband Bill.

She is survived by her sons William Carl Guptill, LCDR, USN, Retired (Eileen), John Randal Guptill (Susan) and Richard James Guptill (Pamela); Grandchildren Mary Ruth Guptill Laiche (Michael); Mathew Jonathan Guptill (Ann); Patricia Leigh Guptill; James Randal Guptill (Alison), Jennie Ann Guptill Bunton (Mark) and Christopher John Guptill (Elizabeth); seventeen Great Grandchildren and five Great-Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephews, John Robert Leonard and George Noel Leonard of Wilmington, NC.

A Graveside Service will be held at New Bern National Cemetery, 1711 National Avenue, New Bern, NC 28560 on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 11:00 am.

Online condolences can be made to the family by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com. Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Mary Louise Guptill.