Mary Durden Gross Willard

Mary Durden Gross-Willard, 88, of Leesburg, FL was called home to be with the Lord, on Sunday, August 2, 2009. Born in Geneva, AL, she moved to Central Florida when she was 5 years old. She was a nanny and care giver to many children and families in Lake County. She was a devoted Christian and founding member of the Sunset Harvest Pentecostal Church of Tavares. She was preceaded by her husbands, Robert H. "Slim" Gross and Samuel L. Willard; son, Richard Wayne Gross; and daughter, Virginia Gross Coleman. She is survived by daughters-Mary Alice (Jack) Smukler of Fruitland Park, FL and Darlene G. (Tom) Dick of Inverness, FL; Sons-Robert "Louie" (Debbie) Gross of Longwood, FL and Roger Dale Gross of Gainesville, FL, 20 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 16 great great grandchildren. Services will be held at the Harden-Pauli Funeral Home Chapel, Eustis on Friday, August 7, 2009, at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5 PM to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Sunset Harvest Church Building Fund, 861 W. Alfred ST., Tavares, FL 32778. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.