Mary Tuck Grimes

Mary Tuck Grimes, age 79, of Mt. Olive, Alabama, and more recently Kailua, Hawaii, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 21st, 2025. Mary (lovingly known as Nana) touched all who knew her with her kindness and love.

Mary graduated from Mortimer Jordan High School (Kimberly, Alabama) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, Alabama), followed by a Master’s degree from the University of Alabama. As an English teacher at Gardendale High School and Bragg Middle School (Gardendale, Alabama), Mary inspired countless young minds, nurturing a love for learning and a deep respect for others.

Mary’s greatest joy was spending time with her family, and nothing brought her more happiness than spending time with her children and grandchildren. On any given day, you could find her playing with the kids, singing with the birds, picking flowers in her yard, baking a lemon icebox pie, or reading to her grandchildren in a rocking chair on her front porch. Mary’s heart was as big and beautiful as her smile, and she had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel loved, accepted, and cherished. She taught us how to treat one another with kindness, love without fear, and embrace each day with grace and gratitude.

Her warm, humble, and mighty spirit will never be forgotten. Mary instilled in us the importance of inclusion, selfless care for one another, and living fully in the present without worrying about tomorrow. She reminded us that life isn’t always about having a plan, but about trusting the journey and never giving up on our children. Her love and lessons will continue to guide us for generations to come.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Dow Grimes, Jr.; parents, Louise and Theo Tuck; brothers, James Tuck, Sr. and Douglas Tuck; and sister, Sarah Tuck McDaniel.

She is survived by her brothers, Steve Tuck and Robert “Sonny” H. Tuck; her daughters, Mary Catherine Grimes in Hawaii; Julie Grimes Smith (Brian), and grandchildren Charles Hudson, William Porter, Lewis Truett, and Adalei Mae Leilani in Hawaii; Jenny Grimes Hamil (Ryan), and grandchildren Isla Catherine, Heidi Elizabeth, and Clara Joyce in Georgia; and her son, Charles Todd Grimes (Jamie), and grandchildren Charles Fisher, Lawson Louis, and Zachary Todd in Alabama. Catherine, whose presence brought Mary endless joy, will continue to live in Hawaii with her sister, Julie, and her family.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Sunday, March 9th, at 10:00 AM at Lanikai Park, with a paddle-out at Lanikai Beach to follow. All those whose lives were touched by Mary are invited to join in remembering her life and legacy of love, kindness, and acceptance. Interment will follow at a later date in Oakwood Memorial Gardens in Gardendale, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hawaii Autism Foundation in Mary’s honor and in support of Catherine’s programs at hawaiiautismfoundation.org or by mailing checks to:

Hawaii Autism Foundation

P.O. Box 630

Kailua, HI, 96734