Mary Jane McCarthy

Mary Jane (MacKay) McCarthy, age 83, passed away Sunday, May 16, 2021 at Holmes Regional Medical Center with her husband, Dan, at her bed side. Mary Jane was born January 29, 1938 in Buffalo, New York where she graduated from Buffalo State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Daughter of Roy and Helen MacKay, Mary Jane joins her brother, Stewart (Joyce) and sister, Virginia (Harry) who all preceded her to the promise land.

Mary Jane eventually moved to Brevard County in 1965 after spending four years overseas with the Armed Forces teaching elementary school at Air Force bases in England, Japan, Germany and Libya. After conflicts in Libya sent most of the civilians back to the States, Mary Jane gained employment in the Brevard County School System through previous known teachers. She taught elementary classes (kindergarten was her favorite) for many years and was promoted to assistant principal and principal the last ten years of her career. It was the Space Program that provided a meeting point for Mary Jane and Dan to meet, of all places the Mouse Trap in Cocoa Beach. On June 11, 1966 they were married in Buffalo but have continued to reside in Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island for the remaining 55 years.

She was a loving mother of three children, Megan (Steve), Danny (Lori) and Timothy; five grandchildren, Monica, Jeremiah (Dominique), Reese, Mallory, Evelyn and two great grandchildren, Zayden and Aubree. Mary Jane also leaves four nieces, Eileen (Dave), Marjie (John), Cindy and Pam (Kevin) and nephew. MacKay Clan Chieftain Ken (Monica) whom she loved and always had in her thoughts.

Besides being an excellent cook, Mary Jane always loved to sew, which she was very skilled at, making and mending the children’s, as well as her own, clothes in the initial years of marriage. In later years, the skill made for and easy transfer to one of her favorite hobbies and pastimes, that of quilting. She participated in both the rocket Quilters and Merritt Island Quilt Circle for many years, enjoying both the camaraderie and purpose of each organization.

Another pastime favorite of Mary Jane’s after here retirement was traveling. She loved both river cruising and ocean cruising and sailed on ten river and 61 ocean cruises (eleven different cruise lines and 47 different cruise ships) that took her all over the world including all seven continents and completely circumventing the earth.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, 5950 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, FL on Friday, June 4, 2021. The Visitation will begin at 10:00am with the service to begin at 11:00am. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association, Special Olympics Florida or to a charity of your choice, all will be greatly appreciated.