Mary Mccormick

Mary Alyce Dwyer McCormick, our sweet Momma, passed away Tuesday, October 15, with daughters at her side.She was born in Detroit, Ml, to Kenneth and Margaret (Jones) Dwyer, on July 16, 1935. She had one brother, William K. Dwyer (Judy), five daughters, Margaret (David) Smith, Elizabeth (Shepard) Dunn, Karen Trotter, Jan (Brian) Mewhinney, and Mary McCormick.She was known by many names, MA, Mary Alyce, Aunt Mary, Mom, and as her grandkids called her, Baka. She has 11 grandchildren, Spenser and Adam Smith, Nash, Ryan and Caroline Dunn, Preston and Foster Flamion, Morgan (Mewhinney) Schantz, Maddy Mewhinney and Oliver and Milo Trotter. Four great-grandchildren, Shepard and Evangeline Dunn, and Eleanor and Sloane Schantz.Mom was the Knox County Fair queen in 1952 and graduated from Bicknell High School. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in home economics from Purdue University, an associate's degree in Accounting from Vincennes University, obtained a real estate license and learned to fly a plane.She bought and ran Feltons Tavern for several years and later opened the Marigold restaurant in Wheatland, IN. Eventually she went to work as a kitchen supervisor at the prison in Carlisle, IN, until her retirement.Mom loved golfing, riding horses and motorcycles. She began attending the Indy 500 annually in the early 1980's, first with her brother and then with all of us and friends in tow. It was always a great family day for us and we still maintain the same 14 seats after all these years.No one could bake better than our mom. Her rum cakes and sugar cookies were the best! She regularly baked and shared her many confections with the firemen at the Vincennes Township Fire house. Her Dad was a fireman in Detroit and she had great respect for all firefighters.Several things come to mind as we remember our Mom. Her friendship with Carol Bobe and the hours of Yatzee they played. Times too numerous to count, spent with her sister-in-law Bettye McCormick and Bill and Josie Heineke in the Heineke's kitchen. How she enjoyed going to the monthly poker parties with her friends. Her passion of following politics. Her appreciation for our wonderful neighbors, Bob Biggs, the Donnie Nowaskie family and the Delisle family. Her continuous friendship with Gerri Seibel. The great number of friends she had, too numerous to list. And Cokes. She loved her Cokes. .Her love of people, a good joke and a good time will be remembered by those who knew her and surely will leave them smiling.By her example, she paved the way and raised us to be strong, self-sufficient women. We feel beyond grateful to have had her as our mother. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her.We invite all who would like to join us in a celebration of her life, to be held at the Harmony Society, Saturday, October 26th, 2-5pm.Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to the Vincennes Fire Department.