Mary Flynn Collins Crawford

Mary Flynn Collins Crawford passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday December 5, 2025 surrounded by family. Mary was born in Framingham, Massachusetts. Her parents were Nora Cuddy Flynn and Frank Flynn. She was the eldest of 6 children. Mary’s passions were her Catholic faith and the church choir, her family, and her career as a registered nurse.

Mary was a member of our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church from 1963 to 2001. During that time, she was a valued member of Our Lady Fatima Catholic Church’s choir. She and her husband, Sherman relocated to Gulf Breeze FL, where she lived for 19 years. During this time, Mary was active in Gulf Coast Friends, was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, sang in the choir and enjoyed traveling. In 2020, she moved back to Biloxi to be closer to family.

Mary’s greatest joy was her family. They were her pride and joy. She was happiest when her home was full of love and laughter. She especially loved sharing stories about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to anyone who would listen.

Mary’s career as a registered nurse spanned for over 40 years. Thirty of those years, she was at Keesler AFB Hospital Biloxi in Labor & Delivery. Her most rewarding and heartfelt assignment came when she transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in caring for premature infants. Mary had a gift for serving others. She was so very caring and loving with her patients and their families. In her career as a nurse, she cared for countless families. She received many recognitions for her selfless dedicated service to others.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Nora Flynn, husband Sherman Crawford, sisters Nancy Sweeny and Rita Alemeda, her brother Francis Flynn, sister-in-law Jacqueline Flynn, and her son Jeffrey Collins.

Surviving family includes sister Joanie Sinclair (Charles), brother John Flynn, sons Henry Collins (Joan) and Norman Collins (Jerrie), daughter Diane Leckich (Mark), grandchildren Emily Cloud (Brandon), Christopher Collins (Kim) and Ryan Leckich (Kayley) and great-grandchildren Colin Cloud, Aidan, Cloud, Nathan Cloud, Carter Collins and Reese Collins. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be given to Our Lady Fatima Catholic Church.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 11:00 am. Friends may visit from 10:00 am until Mass time. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mary Flynn Collins Crawford.