Mary Ann Leaverton

Mary Ann Leaverton of Lake Mary, Florida (formerly of Tallahassee, Florida) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Mary Ann was born on October 25, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of Angelo and Frances Maturo, and she was the first grandchild of Italian immigrants. Even though she grew up during the depression, she never felt poor because she was spoiled and dearly loved by her family.

Mary Ann met her beloved husband, Richard, at a roller-skating rink in Chicago, Illinois. He poked her in the back and asked her to skate and she complained that “he couldn’t even skate”. He asked himself to Sunday dinner and the rest is history. They were married a year later at 19 years of age. He immediately flew off to war in Mid-Way Island for two years. When he came back from the war they moved to Jacksonville, Florida. She became pregnant with her first child, Janet, and Richard was transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mary Ann followed him soon after flying for the first time, and “it was a very tiny aircraft.” She flew from Jacksonville to Miami, to Havana, then “puddle jumping” to various small towns across Cuba. At one point she was hungry and purchased a sandwich from a lady at one of the stops. She said it was very good and asked the steward what it was. It was then that she learned she had eaten Iguana. She went on to raise four children as a military wife and mother. She and Richard retired after twenty-five years of service and built a home in Tallahassee, Florida.

Mary Ann loved to travel, and when Richard retired from his second career as a data center Administrator, they purchased their first motorhome of several and joined SMART (Special Military Active Recreational Travelers). He was the Secretary/Treasurer; and, she being the fashionista that she was, directed fashion shows for the club. They traveled the entire United States and Canada.

When her beloved husband of sixty-six years passed away, she thought “it’s time to go to Europe.” She spent the next two years getting into shape by working out in the gym, and off she went with her daughter Joyce on her first European tour in 2013. In Rome the first night, she was told to leave the hotel as there was going to be a demonstration in the area. So, the two took a cab to the Spanish Steps, then they walked down to the Trevi Fountain and had dinner. When they tried to get back, no cabs would take them because of the demonstration. They walked two miles in the dark with people throwing fruit all over the streets. She was eighty-nine years old. She later toured Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Venice and the Greek Isles. And, then, the next year she traveled to Paris, Amboise, Turkey, Corfu, the French Riviera and Barcelona.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2010. She is survived by her four children, Janet Kuhlmann (and son-in-law John Kuhlmann), Joyce Richardson (and son-in-law Doug Richardson), Joel Leaverton (and daughter-in-law Mandy Leaverton), and Jeffrey Leaverton (and daughter-in-law Leslie Leaverton). She is also survived by her two sisters-in-law, Eunice Loyer and Sue Schenden; six grandsons, Anthony DeMaria, Richard Williams, Nicholas Demaria, Whittie William, JJ Leaverton and Richard Leaverton; and six great-grandchildren, James DeMaria, Brittany Williams, Jayke Leaverton, Lexie Williams. Kimber Leaverton and Grady Williams.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Baldwin-Fairchild (Oaklawn) Funeral Home located at 5000 CR 46A, Sanford, Florida 32771.

Public Viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 9:00 AM with a Celebration of Mary Ann's Life at 10:00 AM. A small lunch will be provided at 11:00am, and we will leave at Noon for Bushnell. A committal will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to please consider making a donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation in Mary Ann’s name.

Condolences may be offered below in the online guest book.