Mary Louise Brey

Mary Louise was born in Lake Wales, Florida to Perry William van Natta and Edla Gladys Eckman. Growing up she enjoyed helping in the family store, swimming in area lakes, and playing softball and basketball. Her family moved to Belle Glade, then Philadelphia, finally settling in Lakeland. She started her college career in 1944 at the Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee but returned to her father in Lakeland, Florida when her mother passed away in 1946. Mary Louise completed a BS degree in chemistry at Florida Southern College in 1948 and went to work as a chemist in the phosphate mining industry. She then taught chemistry at Hardee High School in Wauchula, Florida from 1949 to 1951 before starting graduate school at the University of Florida in 1952, earning first a master’s degree and then a PhD in Chemistry in 1956 under Professor Paul Tarrant. During her graduate career she worked as an instructor and research assistant, transitioning to research associate after earning her PhD.

Wallace Brey started as an assistant professor in 1952, the same year Mary Louise began her graduate studies. The two fell in love and married in 1955. She retired from a formal position in chemistry and devoted herself to helping with Wallace’s publications and bringing up two boys: Bill, born in 1961, and Paul in 1963. She also took an active role in the community. Mary Louise was a charter member of the WRUF-FM community board in the early 1980s. She also volunteered in the chemistry lab at Buchholz High School and was named Alachua County’s Outstanding School Volunteer for 1987. Mary Louise was an early adopter of personal computer technology, taking programming classes and writing programs to track chemistry citations.

Mary Louise enjoyed birding and classical music, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, friends and neighbors.

In 2019, Mary Louise and Wallace moved from Gainesville to Tallahassee to be closer to Bill and his family. She is survived by her sons Bill (Paige) and Paul (Sandra) and grandchildren Amelia, Max, Katie (Thomas), and Jewell. The family is grateful to Big Bend Hospice and to her many wonderful caregivers for their loving kindness during her final years.

A celebration of life will be held at 2650 Noble Dr., Tallahassee, Florida at 2:00 pm on June 8, 2024.