Obituary of Margaret Palmer Ayres MD

Margaret Palmer Ayres, 85, of Ocala, died at her home on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. She was born in Ocala on June 15, 1925 to the late Margaret Eddins Palmer and Whitfield McRory Palmer. She was educated in Ocala Schools and also attended The Bartram School in Jacksonville and graduated from Ocala High School in 1943. She attended Florida State College for Women and received her BS from Duke University in 1947. She went to medical school at Emory University School of Medicine, graduating in 1951. After two year's residency in Baltimore and Atlanta, she returned to Ocala where she began her practice. She was the first female physician on the medical staff of Munroe Memorial Hospital. She served as its Chief of Staff from January 1966 through December 1967. She remained an active and dedicated physician until she retired in 1985. At that time she became an honorary member of the Munroe Medical Staff. She was a lifetime member of Grace Episcopal Church and served as a member of its finance committee until her death. Margaret loved her community and supported many organizations here including College of Central Florida Scholarship Program, United Way of Marion County, The Munroe Foundation, and the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting. She was a longtime member of the Board of Directors of Mid-State Federal Savings & Loan, now Regions Bank. She is survived by her brother, Whitfield M. Palmer, Jr. (Diane) of Ocala; sister, Virginia Palmer Swindal, Tampa; nieces Margaret Palmer and Susie Klein (Randy), Ocala; nephews Henry E. "Chip" Palmer, Whitfield M. Palmer, III, Thomas Martin Palmer, Ocala; Fred L. Swindal, Jr. (Madonna), Chapel Hill, NC, Michael P. Swindal and Stephen W. Swindal, Tampa; step-daughter Imogene Ayres; and thirteen great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Willard Ayres and step-son Ben Ayres (Carolyn). She was a beloved sister, aunt, and friend to many. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 27, 2011 at Grace Episcopal Church, 503 SE Broadway, Ocala. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Munroe Foundation, 1121 SW1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471-0918 or College of Central Florida Foundation, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474-4415.