Mrs. Mary Alice McRae Richards

Mary Alice McRae Richards, aged 92, passed away peacefully in the early hours of March 14, 2024. Born in Roswell, NM on April 22, 1931, the first of 4 children, to Marion Edward McRae and Orpha Mae Whitmer McRae. Mary Alice’s early years consisted of travelling with her parents as her father entertained as a one-man band. Her family settled in Pascagoula where she graduated as Salutatorian to her class. She received her RN from the Hamlin-Asbury School of Nursing in Minnesota. After returning home to practice her nursing skills at the Gulf Coast Hospital in Pascagoula, she met the love of her life, Ed Richards, and, soon after, married on December 14, 1952. Having put her career on hold, she and Ed raised 5 children on the waters of Bayou Cumbest. Mary Alice nurtured her family with a great love and compassion. Her demeanor was always happy and positive, and, somehow, with all of her responsibilities, she found time to have deep conversations with and enjoy board and card games with her children. Mary Alice and Ed provided a home with memories full of love, fun, adventure, boating and swimming on the river or at the islands. Leading by example, she taught her children the importance of family values, hard work and to love and serve our Lord. As her children branched out on their own, she sought to serve where she saw the need. She spent many years teaching pregnancy classes as a Red Cross Nurse and volunteering at her church answering the phone. She worked decades in the Singing River Hospital Auxiliary in the Physical Therapy Department, logging in over 5,000 hours of service. As a young girl, Mary Alice loved History. So, in her 60’s, she began travelling the world and the US taking detailed notes of the history of the many places that she visited. She didn’t want to forget a thing! In recent years, she loved playing Bingo at the Senior Center every Wednesday. Mary Alice is survived her brothers, Edward (Martina) McRae of Simi Valley, CA and Chuck McRae of Jackson, MS; Children, Eric (Keigm) Richards of Pascagoula, Lorene (Phil) Bosarge of Pascagoula, Brian (Donna) Richards of Escatawpa, Karen (Mark) Watson of Pascagoula, and Jon Richards of Japan; Grandchildren, Leslie (Tim) Donati, Dana (Marshall) Polson, Joseph (Jerusha) Bosarge, Lori (Michael) Miller, Lisa (Ian) Bergin, Ethan (Farrah) Richards, Anna (Colton) Twiggs, Britney Richards, Rebecca (Justin) Bradley, Christopher and Will Watson, Sara, Alex and David Richards; and 13 wonderful great-grandchildren; along with many special nieces, nephews and friends. Mary Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, Julius Edward Richards; brother, Roland McRae; and her lovely great-granddaughter, Abigail Bosarge. Visitation will be held Monday, March 18, 2024 from 10am to 11am at Holder-Wells Funeral Home, 4007 Main Street, Moss Point, MS with funeral immediately following at 11am with Edward McRae officiating. Interment will be at Krebs Cemetery, behind the Old Spanish Fort/LaPointe-Krebs House, Pascagoula, MS. Her family would like to offer a special thanks to Cynthia McBeath and Hospice Of Light for guidance in her last weeks here. In lieu of flowers, donations or memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Pascagoula or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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Mrs. Mary Alice McRae Richards

April 22, 1931 - March 14, 2024