Mary Willis Gassman

GASSMAN, Mary Bolling Willis “Mary Bo”, 70, of Richmond, VA, passed on October 22, 2015, after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of Kenneth Mackenzie Gassman, Jr. who survives her. She was the daughter of the late Addison Gordon Willis, Jr. and Janet Thornton Hurt Willis of Culpeper, VA.

Survivors include her children Mary Hart Spivey (Tom) of Richmond, Elizabeth Cheron (Paul-Ernest) of Clemmons NC, and Mackenzie Weiss (David) of Richmond. Her grandchildren include Mary Moncure and Thomas Spivey, Paul, Charles, and May Cheron, and Jake and Lexi Weiss.

Mary Bo is also survived by her brother Werter Hurt Willis (Janice) of John’s Island, SC, and Jan Lu Young (Rev. Sandy) of Blacksburg, VA. Her brother, A.G. Willis III, preceded her in death; his wife Rev. Bambi Willis of Bowling Green, VA, survives. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

She was born and grew up in Culpeper, VA, where she was a member of the Culpeper Baptist Church. She and her future husband met in first grade. She graduated from Westhampton College of the University of Richmond with a degree in Music Education, with a major in organ.

Mary Bo’s lifelong passions were music, wildflowers, and children. She was an elementary school music teacher, and she taught piano in her home to students as young as age three. She was organist at a number of churches. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and attended Friends Meeting in Richmond.

She was a lifelong member of the Richmond Symphony Chorus and its predecessor group CAFUR for more than 40 years.

She photographed wildflowers all over the world as she traveled with her husband. She maintained a large wildflower garden at her home in Hanover County.

She would be too humble to describe herself with words. Her friends were more forthcoming: “kind, thoughtful, vibrant, happy, beautiful, vivacious, beloved, gracious, resourceful, and a tough cookie.” She was our rock, the glue that held our family together.

When she became ill in late August, she had just returned from a long-planned European trip to visit Scandinavian sites related to music composers of the region and to attend daily concerts. While her illness was brief, prayers from friends worldwide flowed from churches, mosques, temples, and stupas.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the Charterhouse School Auditorium at the United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) campus, 3900 West Broad Street, Richmond. A memorial service will be held in Cannon Memorial Chapel at the University of Richmond on Thursday, October 29, 2015, at 11:00am. Her cremains will be buried at a graveside service at 11:00am on Saturday, October 31, 2015, at the Culpeper Masonic Cemetery in Culpeper, VA.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to your favorite charity, United Methodist Family Services, or Richmond Symphony.

Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.