Mary Cahill Nutting

A figure of grace and greatness has passed from us and left legions of admirers, not to mourn but to rejoice having known her.  Mary Catherine Cahill Nutting peacefully took her leave on the evening of Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Stanley Total Living Center in Stanley, North Carolina.

            A bright eyed beauty, and vivacious from the get-go, Mary was born December 14, 1920 in Jacksonville, FL to George Newton Cahill, Sr. and Mae Iverine Hettrick.  Aside from a handful of adolescent years spent with her mother, brother George and sisters Carolyn and Betty in a house on Calvert Street in Detroit, Mary lived most of her life in Tampa. FL.

            She was a prolific golfer, having racked up five holes-in-one during her tenure on the fairways—a personal point of pride and a common topic of lively conversation.  She was also quite adept with a cocktail and a great card player.

            On November 23, 1940 she joined Don Nutting in marriage, with who she had two beloved children – Mickey and Linda. In 1977 she unjoined Don, yet remained friends with him until his death on August 22, 2005.

            In January 1978 Mary took up residence with John Joseph (“Joe”) Baumgardner.  They married shortly before his death on February 25, 1997.

            In the interim she has continued to hold court with exemplary flair, wit and great aplomb, forever welcoming, engaging, and cherishing those around her.  As songwriter Richard Sherman so eloquently wrote: “Every day’s a holiday with Mary.  No wonder that it’s Mary that we love.”

            Widely and fondly referred to as “The Queen”, Mary Nutting took full advantage of her well-deserved role and regularly entertained friends, family and countless royal subjects in her home.  To their great delight, her annual Christmas galas were especially lavish affairs and her status both as hostess and benevolent monarch was legendary far and wide.

            Some are lucky enough to have touched the lives of two or three acquaintances.  Still others, in their lives, make a positive impact on several people.  And then there are the rarified few whose very essence, heart and great good humor are so enmeshed in the spirit of those they’ve left behind as to guarantee an indelible imprint on generations to come.  Mary Nutting was, and is so beloved.  As she adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family, there was nothing so precious in her life as the relationships she fostered and forged with genuine devotion and warmth.

            In addition to the passing of Don Nutting and Joe Baumgardner, she was also preceded in death by her loving daughter, Linda Nutting Kutik and her special daughter-in-law, Jeri Trusler Nutting, and her sisters, Carolyn Cahill Hardwick and Betty Cahill McFarland.

            Mary is survived by her devoted son, Mickey Nutting (Dana) of Denver, NC; her grandchildren Lorrie Nutting Julian (Michael) of Chapel Hill, NC; Linda Nutting Nugent (Jonathan) of Vero Beach, FL; Michael Lee Nutting, II (Boen) of Mooresville, NC; Michael A. (Mackey) Kutik II (Teri) and Matthew Kutik, both of St. Cloud, FL; Step-granddaughter, Keeli Foster Goins of Tallahassee, FL; Son-in-Law Michael A. Kutik (Cindy) of Kissimmee, FL; Daughter-in-Law Marianne Nutting Boyer of Longwood, FL;  her beloved brother, George Newton Cahill, Jr. of Palm Harbor, FL; by her loving brother Larry Cahill (Amy) and her cherished sister Sandy Cahill Roberts, both of Jacksonville, FL.

            Additionally her great grandchildren: Sydney Catherine Julian, Ciara Aisling Nugent, Niall Patrick Nugent, Aoife Kathleen Nugent, James Michael Nutting, Sam Burch Nutting, Frank William Cousins, Ashlyn Hope Kutik, Kearstyn Charity Kutik and Matthew Dallas Kutik.

            And still many more adoring nieces and nephews.

            A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Mary’s life and legacy will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at her son’s home, Nutt’s Landing, 4308 Lake Shore Rd, N, Denver, NC at 3:00 P.M. Dinner at 5:00 P.M. (The Queen very much wished this to be a casual, joyous affair so your compliance is kindly requested.)

            Mary and the family were profoundly moved by the rare sensitivity and compassion exhibited by Hospice and the staff at Stanley Total Living Center.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary’s name to Stanley Total Living Center, 514 Old Mt. Holly Road, Stanley, NC 28164 for the Employee Benevolence Fund.

            As she will live in our hearts always, say ye all, “Long Live the Queen!”

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