Mary Ellen Parkins

Mary Ellen passed away on October 30, 2022 after a protracted decline. She will be sadly missed by her family, friends and her treasured St. Simon’s community. Mary Ellen is predeceased by her beloved husband John Hewlett Parkins III, her parents Thomas McRobert “Mac” Dailey, Mamie Alma “Poopsie” Dailey (nee; Payne) and her special feline companion Tony.

Her surviving family includes her brother Russel Dailey (Dolores), South Bend, IN., and her cousins, Dr. Sharon Dailey, Ship Bottom N.J., Patrick E. Dailey, Buffalo, N.Y., Alan Dailey, Moosejaw, Sask, Canada and Patrick J. Dailey (Verna) Auburn, CA.

Mary Ellen was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada in 1935. The family moved to Buffalo, N.Y. for a short time before moving to Philadelphia, PA for her formative years. Mary Ellen graduated from Little Flower High School for Girls and was then employed at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. After a career change she went on to enjoy three decades as a valued and celebrated flight attendant for United Airlines. Mary Ellen loved the adventure of flight, meeting and helping people plus exploring the many destinations on her routes around the world.

After marrying John in 1979 and moving to Georgia, Mary Ellen pursued further education and earned degrees in Psychology, Social Work and Nursing from LaGrange College. She practiced nursing for a decade before enjoying the retired life on St. Simon’s Island with her husband John. They shared a wide world of travel often related to his work as an executive for Milliken Mills or as a GA. District Governor for Rotary International. They loved their community and were involved with their various organizations including, the Island Newcomers Club, Shorebirds Club, were founding members of the Sea Island Golf Club where they both enjoyed golfing. Mary Ellen was also a member of The Casino Garden Club, The Symphony Society and she and John were both active in their local church, St. William’s Catholic Church.

She had a friendly smile, a hearty laugh and always, ALWAYS a good story. In the Irish tradition Mary Ellen was considered a master story and joke teller by many. Friends were easy to come by for Mary Ellen as she was warm, welcoming, fun loving and treated folks with dignity and respect.

Aside from traveling Mary Ellen was an avid reader, enjoyed the company of friends and family, was a wonderful hostess, loved a dinner party, partaking in political discourse (dispensing “bless her/his heart” as needed), dressing to the nines and hearing a good story or joke, a bit ribald was fine.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to Mr. Donald Banks who has been a faithful friend to both Mary Ellen and John for many years. We cannot thank him enough for his time, care and attention

In memoriam we would like to suggest a donation to your local animal or humane shelter as “those without a voice” were of such importance to Mary Ellen.

Mary Ellen’s inurnment will be at a later date at St. William’s Catholic Church Columbarium.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home and Oglethorpe Crematorium in Brunswick, Georgia. www.edomillerandsons.com.