Mrs. Mary Goffigon Scott Buck, 99, passed away peacefully July 25, 2022, surrounded by love and care at her family home, “Pinecrest,” in Dalbys, Va.
The eldest of eight children, Mary Goffigon was born on March 26,1923, in Seaview. She completed Cape Charles School in eleven years and went on to graduate from the College of William & Mary in 1945 with a major in library science. In that same year, she married Clarence Walter Buck (“Buck”), her beloved husband of 56 years.
Her very large family and many, many friends knew her by numerous names: Mary, Mary Goffigon, Mary Scott, Mother, Grandmom, Memom, GiGi, Aunt Boo, or just Boo. But by whatever name you knew her, you felt her love and knew she was someone special.
Places dear to Mary’s heart were Holmes Presbyterian Church, her cherished Eastern Shore, Pinecrest, and “downhome,” where she grew up on Plantation Creek with a clear view straight out to Plantation Light – “her light,” as she put it.
Along with being a loving, supporting daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, and friend, Mary kept a beautiful home, was a fantastic cook, seamstress, knitter, gardener, savvy bridge player, bookkeeper, and banker. In her later years, she was happy just riding the mower and picking up sticks, always keeping the big yard at Pinecrest tidy. Or she could be found pruning her rose garden, spending time with friends, or rocking away on the front porch. She loved sharing her beautiful flowers with a friend in need, arranging for a family wedding – of which there were many – or decorating the altar at Holmes on Sunday mornings. Mary Goffigon had a green thumb in the garden and an unmatched skill in the kitchen, able to stuff large amounts of people with large amounts of delicious, home-cooked food.
Her faith in Jesus as her Savior and devotion to her church were a strong, meaningful part of her long life. Having been baptized, raised, and married in Holmes Presbyterian Church, she faithfully served the Lord and Holmes as a Sunday school and Bible school teacher, elder, and clerk of session. She was named clerk emeritus by the Presbytery in appreciation for her long and dedicated service.
Widow of Clarence Walter Buck, daughter of the late Frank Downes Scott Sr. and the late Mary Goffigon Jarvis Scott, Mary was predeceased by siblings, Anna, Bill, Tommy, Julia, and Frank; and so many loved ones.
Mary is survived by sons, Walter Scott Buck Sr., of Dalbys, and Temple Robins Buck, of Mechanicsville; grandchildren, Walter Scott Buck Jr. (Heather), Christopher Robins Buck (Jennifer), Aimee Olivia Buck Kerchner (Bryan), and Matthew Thomas Buck; great-grandchildren, Madison, Tanner, Katelyn, Cainan, Ruby, Owen, and Ainsley; family members, Rebecca and Olivia; sisters, Emily and Jesse; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews.
The family would like to deeply thank the many friends and family (too many to list here) who have been there for Mary Goffigon in her final years; your love and compassion is matched only by her love for you. To the wonderful, professional in-home caregivers and hospice doctors and nurses – thank you for the extraordinary care, support, and love shown to Mother in her time of need.
A graveside service will be held at Holmes Presbyterian Church Friday, July 29, 2022, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mary S. Buck Education Fund, care of Holmes Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 258, Cheriton, VA 23316.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at foxfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by Fox Funeral Home, Temperanceville.
