Mary Olive Mcfall Damon

Mary Olive McFall Damon, 83, of Jacksonville, died at her home on Saturday, November 7. She was attended by her loving husband of 61 years, Dr. David Reid Damon, and 3 children, who were by her side during her illness. She was a 17-year cancer survivor, who fought courageously through complications due to diabetes, cancer, and other illnesses in recent years. During her illness, she always had a smile and encouragement for others. Even to the end of her life, her kind graciousness and caring for her family and friends brightened everyone’s visits with her. Visitors enjoyed her commentary on her childhood in semi-rural Alabama (her father bought his youngest daughter horses instead of a car and would rise early on frosty winter mornings to ride through the fields with her before school and work), her young adult years as the wife of an Episcopal priest in a mission church, and her life as a loving mother of three, while pursuing her profession as a teacher.
Mrs. Damon, born January 18, 1927, in Montgomery, Alabama, is survived by her husband, Dr. David Reid Damon, whom she met at the age of 15 while attending Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery. They fell in love, but her father would not allow her to marry until she finished college. She completed her college career in 3 1/2 years, then married David Damon in historic St. Johns Episcopal Church in Montgomery on Feb. 3, 1948, after he attended Kings Point, the Merchant Marine Academy, and had been to sea during WWII.
She graduated with her B.A. degree from Judson College in Alabama and attended classes at Huntington College, Purdue University, and the Univ. of N. FL. She became an enthusiastic teacher and mentor to many young people throughout her life. She taught school in Panama City at Holy Nativity Episcopal Day School and Rutherford High School; in Jacksonville at Jacksonville Country Day School; and the Duval County Home Hospital Program, always teaching as a professional, believing every day was a day she could bring out the best in her students and influence good outcomes for even her most challenged students, many of whom had serious illnesses and disadvantages at home. She was a member of the Beta chapter of ADK teachers’ sorority.
A "cradle Episcopalian" herself, she was a close partner with her husband, the Rev. Dr. David Damon, Episcopal priest. She was instrumental working with him in beginning the Holy Nativity Episcopal Day School in Panama City, Florida, their first parish. She later accompanied him when he took a position as rector at St. Andrews Episcopal Church and Day School in Jacksonville where the family has resided for 40 years.
Besides her love for books and education, Olive was trained as an artist and found time for painting and teaching creativity and an appreciation for the beauty of art and painting to both her children and her students. She created paintings valued by her family and friends; she loved to sew and was a talented seamstress creating beautifully designed and crafted paraments and vestments for her parish. She also loved her family and extended-family pets, especially her two constant companions, Boston terriers Little Dog and Penny.
She was predeceased by her father, Andrew M. McFall, and her mother, Julia E. Armstrong McFall; two sisters Margaret McFall and Iola Thorington, and brother, Andrew Marion McFall, all of Montgomery. She is survived by her children, Susan Damon Reese (Jacksonville); Julia Hanway, David Damon II, daughter-in-law Sue Damon and son-in-law Jack Hanway (all of Crawfordville, FL); grandchildren: Mary Sue Reese (Marty Acre, of Palm Coast, FL), Robert Reese (Mariah, and Sebastian of Jacksonville, FL); Reid Hanway, Gabriel Hanway and Harper Hanway (Tallahassee, FL), and David (Gil) R. Damon III (Crawfordville, FL); nephew, Samuel C. Damon II (Sheridan, Wyoming); Joni Thorington (Montgomery and Fairhope, Alabama).
A memorial eucharist will be celebrated at one o'clock Saturday afternoon at Christ Church in Ponte Vedra Beach. The Rev. Robert Morris will officiate with a reception to be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, please give a donation in memory to Christ Church, Hospice of N.E. Florida, or your favorite charity. A perpetual scholarship for the arts has also been established in Olive's name at the Wakulla County High School in Wakulla Co, Fla, where she and David enjoyed many happy days with their extended family at "Stillwood," their cottage in the forest.