By Steven J. Smith
HIGHLAND BEACH — Mary Stockstill Willman, or “the original Banshee Girl” as her family lovingly called her, died peacefully in her sleep on July 6 in her Highland Beach home. Born in Dayton, Ohio, on Nov. 10, 1923, she was married for nearly 50 years to World War II veteran Edward M. Willman, who died in 1994. She was matriarch to her surviving family of three children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Kimberlie Willman-Federer, Mrs. Stockstill Willman’s eldest granddaughter, said she earned the Banshee nickname through her husband, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps Dive Bomber Squadron VMSB-244. Known as the Bombing Banshees, the squadron fought with distinction in both the Bougainville and Philippines campaigns.
“Nana and Papa were married within two weeks of their first meeting,” Willman-Federer said. “She loved him and cared for him after he contracted polio and was told he would never walk again. He started sailing as therapy and they made their life sailing through the salt waters of Biscayne Bay on their boat, Banshee.”
The Banshee nickname endured into another generation when Euri Luce-Mead, Mrs. Stockstill Willman’s next eldest granddaughter, adopted it as the moniker of her company, Banshee Girls, which manufactures clothing and accessories.
“She loved fiercely and lived every day to the fullest until the last and final day,” Luce-Mead said of her grandmother. “She won her race and we celebrate her life. I love her more than words can say.”
“She was ‘pedal to the metal,’ full of energy and in all her glory throughout her life,” Willman-Federer added. “It was hard to keep up, but we learned quickly.
“Nana was the glue to the family and showed us by example to live life to the fullest, with love for everything and everyone. Those lessons will remain in each of our entire lives and will be passed down to our children.”
Mrs. Stockstill Willman had a passion for painting, a talent that has been shared by many in her family.
“She loved art,” Willman-Federer said. “Painting was therapy for her and she loved to paint the family. She has done portraits of most of us. She also loved pictures of the ocean and sailboats.”
Austine Luce, another granddaughter, said Mrs. Stockstill Willman “is a cherished spirit to remember.”
“She is definitely dancing up there in her shiny cowgirl boots,” Luce said. “The ones with fringes on them.”
A memorial service was held July 7 at Lorne & Sons Funeral Home in Delray Beach.
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