Mary Appleton Jaycox

On December 14th, 2023, our family and community lost a cherished soul as Mary Louise Appleton Jaycox passed away at the age of 59. She was a bright light in the lives of so many and a pillar of strength.

Mary was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on October 23, 1964. She grew up in the capital city of Ottawa and later returned to Toronto to earn her bachelor's degree in Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson University. In 1987, she married the love of her life, William Russell Jaycox, and moved to Jacksonville, Florida.

Mary loved traveling the world and exploring new places. Her favorites included her time spent in India vaccinating children against polio, in Africa white water rafting down the Zambezi River and drinking and eating her way through Italy and France. Always having been a creative person, these travels fueled her other great passion, interior design. She carefully curated many homes for her family and others, taking great pride and joy in the beauty she created around her.

Mary was a tenacious researcher to ensure her family's health and well-being, always won in trivia and was a brilliant day trader in the stock market. She enjoyed playing tennis, walking her dogs, Moose and Jasper, a good Cabernet and quality time with her friends and family.

Mary was the most dedicated mother, wife and friend, spending much of her energy on raising her three children and ushering them into adulthood. She instilled in them a sense of determination and encouraged them to embrace their gifts. She led by example as a loving, humble, passionate, perseverant and patient person.

She is survived by her adoring husband, her children, Noelle Jaycox Acosta (Alexei), Shannon Jaycox, and William “Randy” Jaycox, her grandchild, Avery Acosta, and soon-to-be-born second grandson, all of Jacksonville, Florida. She is also survived by her mother, Edith Kathleen Appleton. She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Wayne Appleton (2020), and sister, Corinne Elizabeth Appleton (2011).

She will be laid to rest at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Cemetery (San Jose) on Wednesday, December 20th at 10 a.m. in Jacksonville, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer donations made in Mary's memory to https://pancan.org/