Mary Russell Tarr Savary

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our dear mother, Mary Russell Tarr Savary, on Tuesday, May 28. She was 97. Mary was born in Harriman, Tennessee on November 22, 1926. Her family moved to Inverness, Florida when she was a teenager. Mary graduated from Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University) with honors majoring in Social Studies and minoring in Journalism. She met her late husband, Johnson “Buddy” Sidney Savary in Inverness and they married in 1953. Mary worked as a teacher in Alachua, Citrus, and Marion Counties while Buddy attended UF law school in Gainesville. They moved to Sarasota in 1956, and Mary taught at Southside Elementary School before staying home to raise four children. In addition to being a devoted wife and wonderful, caring mom, Mary was a woman of strong faith and led by example in her service to others. She immersed herself in church and community activities. She served in many positions and on various governing committees at Church of the Palms Presbyterian including as an Elder and Deacon and on the Early Childhood Center, Food Pantry and Nominating committees. In addition, she served on the Ringling Museum Board of Trustees, The Pines of Sarasota Foundation Board of Trustees, Executive Board of the Sarasota Garden Club, President of the Founders Club, President of the Sarasota Cotillion Club, Docent at the Ringling Museum of Art and as a volunteer at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Mary brought much joy to so many people. Her gentle, loving, southern manner, combined with her funny dry wit, was cherished by friends, family, and those fortunate enough to have met her. She was still delivering clever one-liners until a few days before her death. She was never without a smile, even when she was not feeling well. Mary was a great hostess, whether hosting a holiday event, dinner at the house, a cocktail party, or the many epic front porch parties later in life, a scotch in hand. She became a converted Gator fan, through her husband Buddy, and was the “hostess with the mostest” at many tailgates in Gainesville with her delicious, boiled peanuts and pimento cheese! She was a beloved grandmother to 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mary loved to spend time with her grandchildren, and would often babysit, pick up from school, attend school and sporting events, host tea parties, go on long walks, help with homework and reading as well as frequently visiting those grandchildren living far away. Mary was loved by all who knew her, but she was especially loved by Buddy and her children Joe, John, Mary Beth, and Laura. Mary is survived by children Johnson S. Savary, Jr. (Sara), Mary Beth Savary Taylor (Bob), and Laura Savary Rees; grandchildren, Emily Savary Mullan (Chris), Russell and Lillian (Lilly) Savary and Hayley Gordon; Matt (Teri), Jordan, Kate and Lauren Taylor; Jack, Sydney and Alyson Rees and great-grandchildren, James and Maxwell (Max) Mullan, Landon and Logan Taylor and Preston and Rex Miller. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy, son, Joe, and her beloved lhasa-apso, Bull Gator. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 13 at 3:00 pm at Church of the Palms Presbyterian in Sarasota, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of the Palms Foundation, Pines of Sarasota Foundation or the Sarasota Garden Club. Mary’s family would like to thank the staff and team at Take Care Home Health, Sue Wise, who took amazing care of our mom in her later years. A special thank you to Betsy Anderson, Connie Johnston, Michele Shaw and Debbie Sweeting for taking such loving care of our mom as well as the incredible staff at the Inn at the Sarasota Bay Club and Dr. Darren Hoffberger of Premier Physicians of Sarasota.

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Mary Russell Tarr Savary

November 22, 1926 - May 28, 2024