Mary Echo Aycock of Tuscaloosa, Alabama passed into the arms of our Lord on August 4, 2023 at Hospice of West Alabama. She was born January 10, 1923, in San Pedro, California to Mary and George Cook. Born into a naval family, she spent her youth growing up in California, Washington State, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. She attended Virginia Polytech Institute and received her nursing degree from Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk, Virginia. Her first job was as a pediatric nurse at Norfolk General Hospital.
During World War II Echo served as an Army Nurse. After the end of the war, Echo found herself working at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. It was there she met the dashing Chief Resident of Pediatric Services who was to become the love of her life, Dr. Ezra Kenneth Aycock. Dr. and Mrs. Aycock were married in Charleston, South Carolina on June 6, 1954, at the Church of the Holy Communion. Together they raised their children Ken and Doris “Dee.” In 1980 Dr. and Mrs. Aycock moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Echo was a supporter of the Episcopal church, carrying the message that God loves you through her work on many mission trips and as lay clergy. She was also a supporter of the arts through her work with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra Guild. In her later years, she continued to share God’s love by making many quilts and donating them to area charities.
Echo loved traveling, experiencing new adventures, sewing, socializing, classical music and all things involved with cooking. She made the best Grasshopper and Lemon Meringue pies. Echo was fond of telling us that she wasn’t born in the south but got here as quickly as she could.
Echo was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Ezra Kenneth Aycock, and her sister Patricia Ellen Yaras. She leaves behind her son Ken Aycock and daughter-in-law Cristi Hitt Aycock, daughter Doris “Dee” Grimmett; grandchildren Clarke Grimmett, Jr. and wife, Kirstin, Mary Grimmett Hetch and husband, Vince, Jack Grimmett and wife, Amanda, George Aycock, Nola Aycock, and Amelia Hitt.
The family wishes to extend its special thanks to her caregivers Michelle Bowden (to whom she was affectionately christened “Sweet Pea”) and Dorothy Duncan, and her many friends.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of West Alabama.
