Person:Mary Tullis (113)

Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - June 2, 2006:

Deceased Name: Mary Lee Tullis Crutcher

Mary Lee Tullis Crutcher, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, "Mimi", passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 after several years of battling cancer. She was born on March 31, 1919 in New Orleans to the late Mary Lee Brown Tullis and Garner Hugh Tullis. Mary Lee lived most of her life in New Orleans and Pebble Beach, California.

She was a member of the first graduating class of Metairie Park Country Day School, and attended Newcomb College, followed by a year studying art in Florence, Italy.

Mary Lee made her debut as a maid in the courts of Twelfth Night Revelers, Atlanteans, and the Mystic Krewe of Comus. She also reigned as Queen of Mystery and Queen of Cotton. In the 1960's and 70's, she was a co-owner of two successful women-owned businesses on Magazine Street: Needlepoint, Inc. and The Rose and the Ring. Mrs. Crutcher was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Garden Study Club of New Orleans, the Junior League of New Orleans, the Colony Club of New York City, and Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

For the past 25 years, she and her husband divided their time between New Orleans and Pebble Beach, CA. An avid golfer, tennis player, badminton player and dancer, she was known for her athleticism, competitive spirit and sense of style. She loved Broadway musicals and tap dance, and she helped Miggy Felder teach ballroom dancing to the young. She read and traveled widely and enjoyed entertaining. She will be remembered for her graceful beauty, sassy sense of humor, gentle presence, steely determination and her enormous generosity.

Mary Lee is survived by her beloved and devoted husband of 54 years, Albert Bruce Crutcher, Jr., daughters Marilee Eaves James of Seattle, WA., Priscilla Eaves Reiss and Allison Crutcher McAshan of New Orleans, sons Albert Bruce Crutcher, III of New Orleans, and John Tullis Crutcher of Grenada, Spain, and her brother Eli Watson Tullis of New Orleans. She was predeceased by her daughter Penelope Eaves Becker, brother Garner Hugh Tullis II and sister Malcolm McCullough Tullis Barkley. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Anne Phyfe S. Palmer, Rebecca Snedeker, Jennifer S. Arnone, James Reiss, III, Lady Catherine Reiss, Crutcher Reiss, Peter Becker, Christian Becker, Shannon Collins, Charlotte C. Meade; Samantha, William, Hudson and Garner McAshan; Rudolf Vrana and Ian Crutcher; great grandchildren Lily and Charlotte Palmer, Tatum and Brooke Reiss, Penelope Becker and Katelyn and Carley Arnone.

Her adoring husband, children and family will miss her dearly. They give special thanks to Marc Lenoir, Nelly Salazar, Xamiry Villalobos and Serentiy Hospice for their compassionate care during her recent illness.

A memorial service honoring Mary Lee Crutcher will be held on Friday, June 2, 2006 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue with the Rev. Dabney Smith and the Rev. Jean Meade officiating. Visitation in the Board Room of the church from 10:00 AM until service time. The family requests that memorials in lieu of flowers be sent to Ochsner Foundation Hospital, 1516 Jefferson Hwy., New Orleans, LA. 70121.

Arrangements under direction of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp, 1600 North Causeway Boulevard, Metairie. Information: (504) 835-2341.