Marie F McCormack's Obituary
Marie Francis McCormack, a longtime resident of Pearland, Texas passed away on November 5, 2025, at 95 years of age. Marie was born in Nutley, New Jersey on December 2, 1929, to Carmine and Elizabeth Crocco. Marie was the fourth of seven children, the middle child as she liked to call it. There were four girls and three boys.
Marie attended Nutley High School and upon completion she took a job at the telephone company as an operator. She enjoyed her time there and formed several good friendships. In 1953 she met a young US Army corporal from Pearland, Texas who was stationed at nearby Camp Nutley. She and Donald Leigh (Don) fell in love and on May 1, 1954, they were married at Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Nutley. Note that the suburban community of Nutley is about 17-miles from New York City and had a population of about 28,000 in 1954. So, to those of us who knew Marie, we understand that her love Don must have been strong because the thought of her leaving her family and moving to a small rural town in Texas, (population about 800) seems totally out-of-character. There’s no doubt that adjustment to life in Pearland was difficult. But she soon became pregnant, and Donald Leigh Jr (Donnie) was born on April 18, 1955. The die was cast, she would spend the rest of her life in Pearland and eventually consider herself a Texan. On November 9, 1957, she was blessed with a second son, Robert Mark. Robert was a very special child who was tragically lost to cancer in May 1972. The loss was almost unbearable for Marie and Don. Somehow, they fought through it for the well-being of their remaining son. Once Donnie finished college and moved out, Marie and Don loved to visit with family, attend church regularly, and take road trips. In those years they grew even closer together. After his death in 2000 she remained in the home they had purchased in 1957 until 2023 when she moved to Trinity Oaks of Pearland. She loved her time there and made many new friends.
Marie was an avid sports fan all her life. A love instilled in her by her mother, who was an avid New York Yankees fan. She passed that love of sports on to her sons at an early age. Marie loved to follow her local teams, the Houston Oilers and then Texans and the Houston Astros, and was also a long-time fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Marie was the classical 1950’s housewife. She loved her husband and was a loving and caring mom to her children. She adored her grand and great-grandchildren. Her house was always immaculate, and she was a fantastic cook! She took great pleasure in it all. Most importantly, Marie was a faithful believer in her Lord Jesus Christ and attended St Helen Catholic Church in Pearland well into her 90’s.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Leigh McCormack Sr (1931 – 2000) and her beloved son, Robert Mark McCormack (1957 – 1972). She is survived by her son Donald Leigh McCormack Jr and wife Deb McCormack, her granddaughter Kayla Thomas and husband, Luke Thomas, her grandson Bobby McCormack and wife, Rachel McCormack, four great-grandchildren, Leah and Lane Thomas, Jett and Grace McCormack, her sister Elizabeth (Betty) Morrone of New Jersey, an especially close niece Linda Weeks, and numerous other nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland.
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