Mary O Pinckney Merrick

Mary Olive Pinckney Merrick passed away peacefully at home on February 24, 2014. Mary O was born in Savannah, Georgia, September 17, 1921 to the late DeSaussure "Dessie" Edwards Pinckney and Olive Gould Pinckney. She grew up in Bluffton on Calhoun Plantation in Pinckney Colony. Mary O graduated at the top of her class from Bluffton High School in 1937 and went on to graduate from Florida State University at age 19. Following college, she worked as a teacher in Florida and then as a chemist at Union Camp in Savannah. During WWII she fell in love with and married Edwin Merrick. After Ed returned from the European front, they made their home at Calhoun Plantation, raising 5 children on the family farm. Mary O returned to teaching in Bluffton and taught math and science at Bluffton High School and McCracken High School for 30 years where she was greatly beloved. Living on the Colleton River for most of her life gave her a deep appreciation for her unique surroundings. When threatened with industrial development, Mary O helped lead the fight against BASF and then Chicago Bridge and Iron who sought to build plants on Victoria Bluff. Later, when boat manufacturer, Thunderbird, set its sights on Victoria Bluff, Mary O inspired and mentored others to fight against Victoria Bluff development. When there was a local environmental cause, all could count on her never ending staunch support and rousing public statements. She became a great mentor for others in her later years. As development surrounded her beloved Pinckney Colony on all sides, Mary O took steps to protect her beloved Calhoun Plantation from development and transferred development rights of the property to the Beaufort County Open Land Trust. Mary O cherished her family above everything. Where you were "from" was as important to her as where you were "going" and upon meeting her, after stating your name (including the last name), you must state where you were "really" from. She boasted that she had 100 first cousins on the Pinckney side alone. A number of relatives became surrogate sisters and brothers to her when the families and children were taken in by Mary O's parents during hard times. Mary O was an avid square dancer along with her husband Ed. She loved traveling, camping, shrimping and crabbing on the river, playing bridge, chocolate and daffodils. Mary O was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton. A "cradle" Catholic, she watched the small St Mary of the Woods grow to St. Andrew and then to St. Gregory the Great. Mary O is survived by her five children, Beth (Jakie) Lee, Chuck (Diane) Merrick, Howard (Patricia) Merrick, Mary (Barry) Connor, all of Bluffton, and Priscilla (Lawrence) Coleman, of Beaufort; twelve grandchildren, Missy (Whit) Hill, Christian (Jordan) Winters, Charles (Frasier) Merrick, Christine (Greg) Terkelsen, Cathy (Bobby) Atkins, Lee (Sonia) Merrick, Meghan (David) Adams, Sam (Elizabeth) Connor, Mary Alice Connor, Wade Coleman, Graham Coleman, Annie Coleman, and twelve great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin L Merrick, her grandson Ryan Merrick, and her second husband, Howard R. Keister. The family would like to express its appreciation for the loving care given to her by Linda Smart during Mary O's last years. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to one of the following charities: Port Royal Sound Foundation, Pinckney Family Cemetery Fund, John Paul II Catholic School, The Wounded Warrior Project or Richard Ryan Merrick Scholarship. Visitation will be at the home of Mary and Barry Connor on Wednesday Feb 26 from 2 to 4PM. A rosary service will be held at Saint Andrew Chapel at 6 PM on Wednesday, Feb 26. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM Thursday February 27 at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton followed by burial at Pinckney Family Cemetery. All are invited to a reception afterwards at the Saint Andrew Catholic Chapel Hall. Memorials may be sent to John Paul II Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1260, Bluffton, SC 29910 www.johnpaul2school.org; Richard Ryan Merrick Scholarship, 503 South Broad St., Clinton, SC 29325 phone 864-833-8211; Port Royal Sound Foundation, 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie,SC 29910, portroyalsoundfoundation.com; Pinckney Family Cemetery Fund c/o Agnes Pinckney, 500 Allen's Corner, Bluffton, SC 29909 or Wounded Warriors Project, woundedwarriorproject.org in memory of Mary Olive Pinckney Merrick.A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, Thursday, February 27, 2014 at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, Bluffton with burial in Pinckney Colony Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 til 4 on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the daughterâ