Mary Elizabeth “Skipper” Fernandez, 88, passed away March 22, 2017. She was born in Mobile, Alabama, January 23, 1929 to the late Frank and late Mildred Hobley. Mary grew up in New Orleans, LA and received a degree from Loyola University in Medical Technology and she was the first in her family to earn a college degree. Mary worked at Tampa General for over 20 years. She was a member of the 99’s female pilot group, a member of the Rotary Anns of Ybor City, volunteered at “Give Kids the World”, an avid collector of coins and Disney memorabilia and she was a world traveler. She is preceded in death by her son, Cid, Jr. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Barbara Simms, and husband Roy, Cathy Ory, Maynard Fernandez, and wife Gilda, John Fernandez, and wife Stephanie, Jim Fernandez, Frank Fernandez; fifteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Give Kids the World, 210 South Bass Road Kissimmee, FL 34746.
