Mary Louise Woudstra Blackshear

May 31, 1936 – September 20, 2026

Mary Louise Woodstra Blackshear, age 90, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of love, family, hard work, generosity, and countless handmade gifts that will continue to wrap others in warmth for generations to come.

Mary was born on May 31, 1936, and grew up in Middleville, Michigan. A remarkable student, she graduated as the Valedictorian of her senior class at Thornapple Kellogg High School. After high school, Mary began working as a bank teller, where fate brought her together with the man who would become the love of her life, Curley Blackshear.

Curley first noticed Mary when he came into the bank to make a payment on his truck. He turned to a friend and said, “That is the girl I am going to marry!” And he was right. Their love story became a lifelong partnership.

Mary and Curley eventually became self-employed, owning and operating several successful businesses together over the years. Mary was much more than a business partner, she was Curley’s lifelong bookkeeper, assistant, and trusted companion. Together, they built a life rooted in hard work, perseverance, and family.

But perhaps Mary’s greatest legacy can be found in the countless lives she touched through her hands and her heart.

Mary learned to sew at a young age from her beloved grandmother, Viola Secord, and sewing remained a lifelong passion. She enjoyed needlepoint, cross-stitch, hook rugs, and especially quilting. Over the years, Mary made possibly 1,000 quilts—for family, for friends, and for people she would never even meet.

She gave quilts generously and quietly, asking nothing in return. She donated them to church groups, charity fundraisers, veterans’ hospitals, and other organizations. Her generosity even reached across the world, with quilts sent to orphanages in Romania. Each quilt was a labor of love, carrying with it Mary's time, talent, warmth, and compassion.

Mary was also an avid reader and a devoted lover of her local public library. She enjoyed keeping up with the newspaper and especially loved the cryptograms. She had a curious mind, a generous spirit, and a wonderful ability to make something beautiful with her own two hands.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Curley Blackshear; her cherished grandmother, Viola Secord; her mother; and her four brothers.

She leaves behind her children, Wayne Blackshear (Wendy), Frank Blackshear (Renee), and Ray Blackshear; her sister, Elsie Golden; her brothers, Jerry and Benjamin Woudstra; her grandchildren, Wayne Jr., Nicole, Saleigh, Rickey, and Kyle, her great-grandchildren, Tate, Dakota, Tyler, Elizabeth, Connor, Mason, Charlie, Piper, Zoey, and Harper; and her great-great-grandsons, Oliver and Newton. She is also survived by many much-loved nieces and nephews, along with countless friends and others whose lives were touched by her kindness.

Mary's quilts will remain as treasured reminders of the woman she was. Every stitch tells part of her story...a story of patience, generosity, creativity, and love. For those fortunate enough to have received one of her quilts, they will forever have a piece of Mary to hold onto.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to honor Mary's memory consider making a small donation to one of the charities she faithfully supported throughout the year:

Florida Sheriff Youth Ranches – Scholarship House, supporting young people right here in Bartow.

Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, an organization Mary regularly supported through donations.

Mary will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 2nd at 3:00 at Ott Laughlin Funeral Home in Winter Haven. 645 West Central Ave, Winter Haven Florida 33880