Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Mary Lackey Parramore, 94, a resident of Old Town Alexandria, VA and Annapolis, MD and previously of Chicago, IL died on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at Sunrise of Annapolis. She wasborn July 25, 1925 in New York, NY, to to the late James B. and Mary (Dexter) Lackey. After graduating from the University of Kansas, Mary worked at the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, PA and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.  She joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1956, and was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service.  Subsequent from retiring from NSF in 1980 as a science policy analyst, she joined the staff of Argonne National Laboratory in Willowbrook, IL, returning to Virginia in 1990.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul O. Parramore, with whom she spent many happy hours sailing in the Chesapeake Bay.  Paul died in 1968. Mary is survived by her son, Michael J. Parramore; and a granddaughter, Ainsley James Parramore.

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A story of love.  It has been 52 years since Mary Lackey Parramore and Paul Oliver Parramore have seen each other.  Well, they are now back together.  They are sailing Jet-14-Greensleeves together, Thistle-Shillelagh together and finishing that cruise on the Coronoado 25 on Labor Day weekend in 1968 on the West River which was the last time they saw each other.  I suspect in a few years they will graduate to a Sabre.  Mary Parramore was a single mom raising a child in the late 60’s when this was not as common as it is today.  She was the first single woman to join Belle Haven Country Club because, maybe that son of her’s would gravitate towards tennis and golf.  Mary had beautiful well decorated town houses in Old Town that her son accessorized with such things as a ’67 Cougar up on blocks and multiple motocross bikes.  She traveled the world, Africa, Antarctica, China, Japan, Australia, etc. Mostly Smithsonian trips.  She worked 30 years for the National Science Foundation as a policy analyst then another 10 as the assistant to the President of Argonne National Lab outside of Chicago.  She was a loving and caring mom to me and a generous and caring mom to my daughter, Ainsley.  She will be cremated per her instructions and buried next to her husband at St. Mary’s in Old Town.  She will also be with me as I travel on Shillelagh hopefully continuing her traveling ways via boat to countries she has not been to yet.  I and her would not have it any other way.  She did a great job of raising me despite all the obstacles that were thrown her way and did so with grace and class.  I love you mom and miss you more than words can say.  You waited a long time to be back with the only man you loved and I am glad for you that the two of you are finally together.  Love, your son, Michael.

Mary L. Parramore

Mary L. Parramore

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