MaryAlice McDermott, 76, born May 3, 1949, at the US Army Station Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC, passed away peacefully August 29, 2025, in Wayne County, NC.

 

After returning from Tokyo, Japan, where her father had been stationed, the family settled in the North Star Community of Hockessin, DE in 1954.

 

MaryAlice graduated from Alexis I. duPont High School in 1967 and received a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics degree from the University of Delaware. 

 

MaryAlice was an avid gardener, creative cook and made wreaths for every season, often using the flowers from her own garden. She was known to bake bread, preserve jellies, and make casseroles, always from scratch and rarely following a recipe.  MaryAlice centered her life around child education in the arts, environment, and sports.

 

She owned and operated a day care center from her home from 1972-1976. She spent the next ten years at Hockessin’s Tatnall School as a Preschool teacher, Athletic Coach (Girl’s Field Hockey) and Preamp Director. Between 1987-1997, MaryAlice worked for Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation as a Program Leader where she organized youth fishing events, and led youth tours to identify birds, trees, plants, insects, and animals throughout the park. From 1997-2004, MaryAlice was an Environmental Educator and Park Naturalist at Bellevue State Park in Wilmington DE, where she was instrumental in developing the Bellevue Arboretum. She organized both Summer and Winter Concerts, Art Programs and Theatrical Camps. MaryAlice started the Wee Have Fun Club in honor of her mother and was known as the Worm Lady of the park as she led young children in the song, Walter the Waltzing Worm while they were able to handle the worms and explored the worm farm.

 

After her retirement to Spies, NC in 2004, MaryAlice found a new purpose and within a few months she was employed by the NC State Cooperative Extension as a County Coordinator for the Family Caregiver Support Program.  MaryAlice later moved to New Bern, NC and in 2021, to Pikeville, NC.

 

MaryAlice was predeceased by her parents, Col. Gregory J. and Margaret C. McDermott of Rehoboth Beach, DE, sister Carolyn M. McDermott, her husband Fred Shuker, and sister Christine M. McDermott, all of Spies, NC, and her beloved dogs, Barney, Malone, Murphy, Teddy, Allie and Andy. 

 

MaryAlice is survived by her sister Ellen M. McDermott of Louisburg, NC, and brother Hank McDermott of Lahaina, HI.  She is also survived by her nephews: Matthew Rickards of Spies, NC and Robert (Adrienne) Eckhardt and their children Madeleine and James of Pittsford, NY and her  nieces: Dr. Cynthia Harker (Christopher Whalen) of France, Christie (Jeffrey) Heynen and their children Benjamin, Cate and Natalie of Wake Forest, NC, Katie (Joseph) O’Barr and their children Jordan (Alexis), Gavin and Ryan of Chesapeake Beach, MD, and Beth Harker (Dr. Donovan Wong) and their children Nolan and Mae of Los Angeles, CA as well as eight grand-dogs and nine grand-cats.

 

The family would like to express their gratitude to the Indigo at Pikeville staff and the care team of Gentiva Hospice for their compassion and support.

 

Service arrangements have been entrusted to Howell Funeral Home & Crematory, Goldsboro, NC.

 

A private family gathering of remembrance will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.