Mary Read

Mary Lucy Gray Read passed away on March 27, 2016. An Episcopalian all her life, it is a testament to her devout faith that she ascended to everlasting life on Easter Sunday. Mary was born October 12 in Iowa City to Dr. and Mrs. Giles W. Gray. When she was three, the family moved to Baton Rouge where her father was Professor of Speech at LSU. Mrs. Read attended University High School, then LSU and was a member of Tri Delta Sorority and the Purple Jacket Pep Squad. She was a devoted Tiger fan and enjoyed bantering with her Gator friends about football outcomes and the rivalry in general. At LSU she was reacquainted with her future husband, Wyeth Read, whom she had known as a young girl. Their romance blossomed as they both played in the LSU orchestra under Louis HasslemansMary on the harp and Wyeth on the violin. One evening Mary asked Wyeth if he could give her a ride home from rehearsal. He did, and on April 21, 1949 they were married at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge. In the early 50s the Reads moved to Miami and subsequently lived in Gainesville, Merritt Island, Rockledge, and Cedar Key before moving to Williston in 1972. Mrs. Read was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Wyeth, her sister Helen, brother Eddy and niece Mary Helen. She is survived by her children, Helen Read McGary of Williston, Bill Read of Madisonville, Louisiana; her brother-in-law Tom Read and his wife Margaret; her sister-in-law Winston Read George; her sister-in-law Carole Gray; five grandchildren Clark McGary (Meghan) of Oregon, Anna McGary Caro (Zack) of Nashville, Katie Read of New York, William Read and Sarah Read of Louisiana; and two great grandchildren Emily and Logan McGary; 4 nieces and 3 nephews and her dear, dear friends Mary Lou and Bob Nash. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 9th, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Williston with Alan Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Orange Hill Cemetery under the direction of Knauff Funeral Home - Williston. Flowers are welcome and memorials may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.