JACKSONVILLE - Mary Lucille Abbott, 97, of Jacksonville, passed away Sunday, March 30, 2025. Mary was born in the little town of Conway, in Horry County South Carolina, December 16th, 1927 to the late James Spark Allen and Rosa Ola Andersen Allen. She was the 10th child born into the family, and a delight to dote on and spoil, I'm sure.

Mary, or "Lucy" as she preferred to be called, was the wife and "woman behind the man" to a career Marine Corps officer, and had as difficult a life as any military wife would have.

When her husband was overseas, she ran the household with a firm yet gentle hand and kept us kids in line. As tough as that might have been, it was probably easier for a country farm girl that grew up during the depression. She did a fantastic job. She was a loving wife, mother, and great great grandmother, and much loved daughter to her parents and sister to her siblings.

In her earlier years before her marriage, she worked a few jobs in Wilmington, during the post war years.  Which is where she met her husband and the love of her life, Charles W. Abbott, at Carolina Beach. She would often tell the story of how they met, when she was there with 5 of her girlfriends, and he picked her to pursue, writing her name and phone number in the sand and memorizing it, only to call her when he returned from a deployment months later. Soon after he popped the question, and they were married in a small chapel in Wilmington in 1950, and had 63 blessed years together.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Wilbur Abbott Sr., her daughter Deborah Lee Abbott Rechtin, her grandson Nathan Clark Rechtin, and her 9 older brothers and sisters of the Allen family.

She leaves behind her son, Charles W. Abbott Jr., daughter Mary S. Abbott Cruddas, son-in-law Clark Rectin, 4 grandchildren, David Mathew Larsen, Jessica Brooke Cruddas, Charles W. Abbott III, Mary Lelia Rechtin, 1 granddaughter-in-law, Jennie Magaldi Abbott, 2 great grandchildren Julian Simmonds, and Charles W. Abbott IV, and 1 great great granddaughter, Delilah Simmonds.

So much loved in life, she will be sorely missed.

There are no services scheduled at this time.