Mary Elizabeth Moffat Hutcheson Stuart

Mary “May” Elizabeth Moffat Hutcheson Stuart passed away Thursday, October 29, 2026. Born April 12, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, she was preceded in death by her parents Marion and John Hutcheson, her younger sister Joan Davidson, and her husband Henry B. Stuart.

She lived a life characterized by kindness, generosity, optimism, inner strength and love. Proud of her Scottish heritage, May cherished her years living in Scotland, where she was sent as a child after surviving the bombing of her family home near Bristol, England, during World War II. At just 14, she left school to work at the local post office and joined the Girls Training Corps, learning military marching and Morse code signaling. In 1949, she returned to the United States by herself with all her possessions in a trunk and one suitcase. Settling in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, she married Henry in 1954, welcoming their son John the following year.

In 1959, the family moved to Newfane, New York, where May began her remarkable 66 years of hospital volunteering at Inter-Community Memorial Hospital. She served as auxiliary president and on the hospital Board of Directors, proudly establishing hearing and vision screening programs that benefited hundreds of local children. Her dedication continued with moves to Florida and Texas, where she became president of the statewide Association of Florida Hospital Auxiliaries and chair of the American Hospital Association National Committee on Volunteers, representing more than two million healthcare volunteers nationwide.

In 1998 she moved to Plano, Texas to be with her son John and his family. She volunteered at Medical City Plano hospital serving in a wide range of roles. She contributed more than 31,000 volunteer hours, the most ever recorded at the hospital, and the equivalent of an employee working full-time for 15 years.

Throughout May 98 years she was a loving, kind, resilient, and consistent mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, friend and loyal confidant. She was a long-time, passionate Buffalo Bills fan and rarely missed watching a game with family. May was a published author and loved golf, still enjoying Topgolf at age 95. With a sharp wit, a mischievous streak, and little regard for anyone else’s opinions about how she should live, May did things her own wonderful way with quiet determination. She valued her friendships, shared plenty of laughter, and never let practicality get in the way of looking her best. Above all, she loved her family, taking immense pride in her son John personal and professional accomplishments and faithfully attending her grandchildren sporting and life events, rain or shine.

Although 98 at the time of her death, she lived independently, drove herself, and continued volunteering three days a week right up to the day before she suffered a stroke. She died peacefully at Medical City Plano surrounded by loving family and friends.

May is survived by her son John Henry Stuart, grandchildren James Henry Stuart and Emily May Sangston, great-grandchildren Mike, Xander, and Victoria May Sangston, nieces Kerri Lowry and Cheryl Shaloub, and nephew Scott Davidson.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 23, 2026, at Allen Family Funeral Options.

May will be laid to rest in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.