Mary Frank Bowden Dickson, loving mother and dear friend, passed peacefully on Saturday, January 18. She was born in 1935 in Chauncey, Georgia to Robert Bowden and Mary Agnes Day; her family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1940. Mary graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1953. The Dickson's relocated to Clay County in 1963. Mary considered Clay County and Orange Park her home. She raised four children and was actively involved in the public-school system, youth association sports and her church, Calvary United Methodist Church.
In 2001, Mary retired from Doctors Inlet Elementary after serving as school secretary for 31 years. She was a friend to everyone she met and her home was well known to her family, friends and her children’s friends as a loving, welcoming place and safe haven.
Mary’s greatest pleasure in life was spending time with her family and friends. She was a great cook and enjoyed preparing Sunday dinner for her family. Each year she hosted two signature events, a Christmas Eve open house and an annual family reunion. Both events gave her much joy, and family and friends would come from far and wide to mark the special day.
Mary is survived by her four children: Keith Dickson (Laura), Mark Dickson (Valerie), Don Dickson (Gail), and Sherry Miller (Jeff); eight grandchildren, Clinton Poole, Brian Dickson, Lindsey Poole Denmark, Michelle Dickson Feeney, Derek Dickson, Caroline Dickson Scott, Catherine Dickson and Chase Dickson; eight great grandchildren: Michael Dickson, Matthew Dickson, Wyatt Denmark, Saylor Denmark, Copeland Poole, Whitman Dickson, Charlotte Scott and Regina Feeney; and her sister, Shirley Boone.
She will be dearly missed by all who know and love her.
