Mary M. Gormley passed away peacefully at her residence in Holmdel NJ on January 27, 2025, at the age

of 89.

Mary was born May 13, 1935, in Baltimore MD to Walter E. Gormley and Nellie H. (Rogers) Gormley as

their only child. She graduated from high school in Green Haven, MD and earned a nursing degree from

the University of Maryland School of Nursing in 1957.

Mary was married in 1961 to (the late) George W. McKulla Jr., moved to Lake Shore, Maryland, and had

three children before moving to Middletown NJ in 1967. She remained a Monmouth County resident

for the remainder of her life.

Mary was active in her children’s education, serving on their grade school PTAs at Fairview Elementary,

and was later elected to the Middletown Township Board of Education for multiple terms, where she

was renowned for her progressivism. She also returned to work as a registered nurse at Riverview

Hospital in Red Bank, until a back injury forced her to discontinue bedside nursing. Determined to

continue her service to others, she went back to school to earn a post-degree certificate as a paralegal

specializing in medical case research. Later, she completed her career as a licensed addiction counselor

at Riverview Behavioral Health. Mary loved cooking and the arts, was always fashionable, and was

affectionally nicknamed “Grandma Mary Poppins” by her grandchildren for the happy surprises and joy

she brought to occasions.

Mary is predeceased by her daughter, Karen Jean Nicholls of Cream Ridge, NJ and youngest son, Gregory

Allen McKulla of Mountain Lakes, NJ. She is survived by her son, George W. McKulla III of Norwalk, CT,

son-in-law, Alan Nicholls of Cream Ridge, NJ, and seven grandchildren.