Mary Delores Boatman, a former U.S. Navy servicewoman, remembered for cooking, recipes
COLUMBIA – Mary Delores Boatman died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, in her home. She was 69.
She was born on Sept. 15, 1941, in New Bedford, Mass., to Albert Parent and Maria Andrade Arruda.
She graduated from the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Ill.
Mrs. Boatman served in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman Third Class at U.S. Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego and was honorably discharged in November 1963. Later that year, she married Jackie Carl Boatman, whom she had met through the military. In 1964, the couple moved to Columbia.
In 1988, Mrs. Boatman's daughter, Patricia Ann Parks, died, and Mrs. Boatman raised Parks' two children, Rhiannon and Eric.
"She just stepped in and took over," her daughter, Cheryl Lynn Nelson, said. "She could handle anything."
For 20 years, Mrs. Boatman worked at University Hospital and Clinics as the chief clerk at the eye clinic and then as a unit clerk before retiring in 2003. After retirement, she spent her leisure time gardening, canning and woodworking.
"Anyone who visited would agree that she was amazing at cooking," Nelson said. "Everybody loved her Thanksgiving dinners and recipes that were famous within the family."
Nelson says that most importantly, her mother taught values and respect.
"Everyone who knew her respected her," Nelson said.
Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Lynn Nelson of Columbia; her sister, Faith Almeida of New Bedford, three brothers, Albert Parent Jr., David Arruda and Vaughn Arruda, all of California; five grandchildren, Rhiannon Parks of Loose Creek, Eric Parks and Kyle Nelson, both of Columbia, Gera Parks of Hallsville, and Suzanne Nelson of Moberly; and one great-grandson, Simon Fifer.
Her parents and a daughter, Patricia Ann Parks, died earlier.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesdayat Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Memorial contributions and donations can be made to WAVES National, an organization established to recognize women who have served or are currently serving in the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or the Reserves, to the attention of Monica O’Hara, treasurer, 6383 Kimmy Ct., San Diego, CA 92114-5631
Condolences can be posted at memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
