Mary Alice McDermott

Mary Alice McDermott, 102, of Newport, North Carolina, passed away on March 7, 2026. Born on February 1, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Charles and Irma Thomas, Mary grew up with an identical twin sister, Janie. At the age of 14, she and Janie followed in their mother’s footsteps and became professional ice skaters, touring the United States and performing together as the Thomas Twins in the Ice Follies.

Mary met her husband, Joseph McDermott, in San Francisco, and they shared 57 beautiful years together. The couple lived in San Francisco before retiring to Sonoma, California. Mary later moved to Newport, North Carolina, two and a half years ago to be close to her daughters. She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Catherine McDermott of Newport and Terrianne Kidd (Jinx Kidd) of Newport, her grandson Dr. Jason Kidd and his wife Dr. Katherine Hansen, and her great-granddaughter Natalie Kidd of Berkeley, California. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews whom she held close to her heart.

Mary found joy in golfing with her ladies group “The Swingers,” knitting, and working on jigsaw puzzles. She cherished the simple things in life and took pleasure in keeping herself pampered. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph McDermott, her twin sister Janie Sullivan, and her older sister Ardria Yoder. She and Joseph are now dancing together once again.