Mary Louise LaFaye

Mary Louise (Wheeler) Lafaye, aged 87 passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on July 13, 2026, at Community Hospice in Jacksonville Florida after a long illness.

Mary was married to the love of her life, Vernon Al Lafaye, for 60 years. From young sweethearts to respected seniors, they faced life's joys and challenges together in loving mutually supportive partnership.

Mary created a beautiful home that was filled with the noisy exuberance and constant motion of her extended family. Comforting home cooking filled her table. Nana's pantry always held goodies to be discovered by her adored great grandchildren. She always welcomed friends and neighbors and was uniformly gracious to strangers. For Mary, being kind was more than a habit or a social obligation. It was at the heart of who she was. She had a tender compassion towards animals and a love of flowers and gardening. She was an A-team tennis player and made many of her closet friends while enjoying the sport.

She is survived by her two daughters, Donna LaFaye (Lon Allworth) and Marcie Rene' Jones; three grandchildren, Kayla Cook (Charlie), Kristina Thomas (Devin), and Hunter Jones; and nine great grandchildren, Colton, ledger, Millie, and Nash Cook, Sage and Kai Thomas, and Carson, Kelani and Malachi Jones.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Al LaFaye, her parents Maxie Kand Janie Louise Wheeler and her brothers, Sonny and Kenny Wheeler.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 5-7pm at the Legacy Lodge Event Center, Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207. There will be a family only memorial service on Friday July 24, 2026, at 10am.