Mary “Lucy” (Wallace) Trautmann, 85, went to be with the Lord and her eternal family on November 3, 2018. She was born into a loving family in 1933 in Eutaw, AL but grew up in Collinsville, AL where she spent a happy childhood and graduated from Collinsville High with the class of 1950. Following high school, she attended the University of Alabama, where she met and married her best friend, Paul Trautmann. At U of A, Mary was active in civil rights and discovered a love of Alabama football and its legendary coach, Bear Bryant. Upon graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, she began teaching public school in Birmingham. She and Paul had two daughters, Paula and Carla while in Alabama and moved to Jacksonville, FL in the late 60’s.
In Jacksonville, Mary spent the next 30 years teaching American history, civics and social studies at Jeb Stuart Junior High, Paxon Junior High and Jeff Davis Middle School. She enriched the lives of thousands of Jacksonville’s young people who loved her creativity, humor and passion for history and teaching. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year more than once and served as a department head where she mentored many junior teachers. Mary earned a Master’s degree from Nova University in the early 1980’s and never stopped learning.
Mary had a life-long passion for genealogy, which eventually led her to serve as Regent in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kan Yuk sa chapter, where she made many special friends. She loved her family, the symphony, a good Methodist hymnal, sewing, hunting for antiques, PBS television, walking through Avondale, old homes, cemeteries, reading, her students, lunching with her teacher buddies, gardening and most certainly, Alabama football. Generous of spirit, humor and love, she made friends easily with people and many, many cats. Mary was smart, beautiful, funny, loving, loved, fair, classy, southern and a natural leader. Most importantly, she was an incredible wife and mother, and we will miss her every day.
Mary Lucy is lovingly remembered by her husband of 60 years, Paul Trautmann; her devoted daughters, Paula Rice (Paul) and Carla Roth (Todd); her loving grandchildren Andrew Rice (Kristina) and Eric Rice (Denise); and her beloved great-grandchildren Lorelei Rice and Luna Rice. She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Bessie Wallace; her sisters, Martha Sue Schuster and Jean Gayle; and her grandson, Tony Rice.
A private family service was held for Mary, and interment will follow in Collinsville, AL at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary Lucy’s memory to NE Florida Community Hospice.
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