Mary Buck Parrish passed away August 4, 2018 at the age of 101 in her home at Oak Hammock in
Gainesville, FL. Mary is survived by her daughter, Catherine Parrish of Gainesville, her grandson, Gerry
McCoy of Gainesville, her great-granddaughters, Haley McCoy and Holly McCoy of Gainesville, her greatniece,
Amanda Parrish Reed of Gainesville, her great-nephews, J. Parrish and Darby Parrish of
Gainesville, her great-great-nieces Matilda McKune Parrish and Elizabeth Parrish Reed, and her greatgreat-
nephews, Montgomery Parrish Reed, James McKune Parrish and Henry McKune Parrish. Mary
was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, M.M. Parrish, Jr., her brother, Charles William Buck,
her daughter, Jean Jordan Haley, and her nephew, Jim Parrish. Mary was born November 23, 1916 in
Gainesville, FL to Catherine Macy Hampton Buck and Dr. William John Buck. After losing her mother to
the flu epidemic in 1918, and with her father away at war, Mary was raised by her grandparents, Minna
Jordan Hampton and William Wade Hampton in Gainesville, FL. She attended Kirby Smith and
Gainesville High School before enrolling at Duke University. She then transferred to the University of
Kentucky before studying interior design in New York and ultimately becoming an Arthur Murray dance
instructor at dance schools in New York City and Miami, FL. Mary Buck married M.M. Parrish, Jr. in
1946 and they built an amazing life together. Mary loved her husband fiercely and was immensely
proud of his work as a builder, developer and real estate broker in the Gainesville community. Mary and
M. travelled the world together with close friends. Gator Football games were a big part of their life and
Mary and M. often hosted pre-game parties at their home. Mary was an active, life-long member of
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville where she taught second grade Sunday school for 25 years.
Mary loved gardening and was very involved in the Gainesville Garden Club for over 45 years. She was a
charter member of the Day Lily Circle and became a Master Flower Show Judge all over the state. She
was a golfer and avid bridge player. Not long after her husband’s death, Mary moved to Oak Hammock
where she was one of the first residents and where she made her home for the last 15 years. Hosting
friends and family, listening to books on tape, sharing her feisty opinions and playing bridge with her
friends remained key parts of her life at Oak Hammock. Mary loved the visits from her great-greatnieces
and nephews. It was they who insisted on throwing their “Nana” a 100th birthday party. Mary
was part of the fabric of the Gainesville, FL community and will be missed by her family and friends. A
memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Tuesday, August 14th at 3pm with a
reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 NE
Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601, or the Gainesville Garden Club, Inc., P.O. Box 357608, Gainesville, FL
32635-7608.
