Mary Ella Musgrove Skates

Mary Ella Musgrove Skates went to join her beloved husband Jerry on Tuesday evening, March 29th. She was born in the Pleasant Grove community of Pensacola on Jan. 30th,1932 to Elvena and Cecil Musgrove. She was a graduate of Pensacola High School, Class of 1949 and remained a loyal member of the 49ers class reunion/luncheon group. Mary went on to graduate from the Mather School of Nursing in New Orleans and eventually came back home to Pensacola working at Baptist Hospital, The Medical Center Clinic and was instrumental in opening West Florida Hospital as the OB/GYN supervisor. Her specialty was labor & delivery for which she had a passion and she treated her patients as if they were her family. She helped to deliver many babies over the years and would often recognize patients for long afterward. Mary eventually went into nursing administration and retired from WFH in 1983. Whenever someone found out that she was a retired nurse, she would assure them that “once a nurse, always a nurse” and she kept up her license until just a few years ago. In the years after her retirement, she continued to nurse her husband and brother through their battles with cancer. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling all over the world with Jerry and friends. Aside from her love of travel, she was an avid reader, volunteered at the National Museum of Naval Aviation and her church, Lillian UMC, and participated in Kiwanis and Elks events with Jerry. She and Jerry and their dogs, Mitzi and Molly enjoyed RVing with friends from their “Roving Elks” camping club up until Jerry’s death in 2013. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her daughters and grandchildren of whom she was intensely proud. She never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone if the urge hit. In her last couple of years, she was forced to assume the role of patient, but in her usual style, she befriended many of her caregivers during her Dr.’s visits and hospitalizations and they loved her as much as she loved them. We are greatly appreciative of the care she received from Dr. Rami Owera and his staff at The Woodlands. Mostly, we want to express our gratitude to the nurses and patient care techs of the 3-West Oncology Unit of Baptist Hospital, Pensacola who took such amazing care of both Dad and Mom. “Awesome” would be an understatement to describe these individuals who are truly doing God’s work and who provide such loving care. We also thank the wonderful staff of Veranda of Pensacola who helped care for her over the last few weeks and where she was making even more new friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and best friend, Jerry; her brother, Grady Musgrove; brother-in-law, Robert Etheridge, and her in-laws, Eva and Tommy Moylan. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Mike Hudson; daughter, Sally Roques, and grandchildren, Danielle and Joe Roques; sister, Nadean Etheridge; sister-in-law, Robbie Musgrove, and cousins, nieces and nephews and her beloves canine companion, Molly. She also leaves a host of wonderful friends and classmates who meant so much to her, many of whom were like members of our family. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 5, 2016 from 10:30 am until the 11:30 am funeral service at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Pastor Daniel Randall will be officiating and burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. Our family asks that in lieu of plants and flowers, donations may be made to Lillian United Methodist Church’s “Good Neighbor” fund or to the Susan G. Komen Foundation (ww5.komen.org). FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, FL is in charge of arrangements. To view the full obituary, visit www.fcfhs.com where you may also express your condolences.

Tributes

Mary Ella Musgrove Skates

January 30, 1932 - March 30, 2016