Mary 'Cookie' Brusnighan, active in the community

Mary Cook Stewart Brusnighan, 75, of Rehoboth, died Monday, June 17, 2013, of congestive heart failure.

Born March 4, 1938, in Laytonsville, Md., Cookie, as she was known, grew up on Oatland Farm in Olney, Md., where she was active in the Montgomery County 4-H. The daughter of the late Thomas Stewart and the late Henrietta Riggs, Cookie showed cattle and rode with the Goshen Hunt. Cookie graduated from Sherwood High School in 1956 and attended the University of Alabama.

Cookie lived at Round Bay in Severna Park, Md., for over 35 years, where she helped her partner, Ron “Digger” Jones, manage Federal Landscaping of Annapolis, Md. She and Digger moved to the Pines community in Rehoboth in 2003 and later to Henlopen Acres, where she was active in the local farmers market, the Rehoboth Beach Library Board, the Village Improvement Association and the Rehoboth Beach Gala Society. Cookie sought a seat on the Town of Henlopen Acres Board of Commissioners in 2009 and followed many Sussex County civic and municipal activities.

An avid tennis player, Cookie enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking and boating. She adored a good garage sale. Cookie was at her happiest on the beach surrounded by her grandchildren, family and friends.

In addition to her partner of 52 years, Digger, Cookie is survived by her three children, Scott Brusnighan (Marianna) of Severna Park, Mike Brusnighan (Sarah) of Annapolis, Md. and Julia Fitzpatrick (Berry Joseph) of Jacksonville, N.C. She is also survived by her brother, Gordon Keys of Middleburg, Va.; her former husband, John Brusnighan of Severna Park; and four grandchildren.

A celebration of Cookie’s life will be held at the family home in Henlopen Acres, Saturday, July 6 at 4 p.m.