Mary Frances Aumiller, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, author, and friend, passed away peacefully September 2, 2026, at the age of 84. She died comfortably and surrounded by the family she loved so dearly.

Mary Frances was born Mary Frances Woodhall on November 10, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to her parents George and Armella. She developed a lifelong love of learning and science that would become the foundation of an extraordinary career in education.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Colorado State University in 1964. Mary was married on August, 1964 in Thorton Colorado to Robert Aumiller. In 1965 Mary Frances and her husband, Robert, moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, Robert starting his career at General Electric and Mary beginning her teaching career. They remained in Volusia County where they built their life together and raised their family,

Mary Frances began her teaching career at Mainland High School. When Spruce Creek High School opened in 1975, she joined its faculty and became an important part of the school's history. She taught Chemistry I Honors, pre-International Baccalaureate Chemistry, and IB Chemistry III, inspiring generations of students with her knowledge, high standards, and enthusiasm for science.

Mary Frances was an exceptional educator whose dedication was recognized throughout Volusia County and beyond. She was named Volusia County Teacher of the Year twice, an honor that reflected her extraordinary commitment to her students and to the teaching profession.

Her accomplishments extended well beyond her classroom. She authored Teaching High School Chemistry: A Handbook of Effective Techniques, published by Parker Publishing Co., sharing her knowledge and experience with educators across the country.

In 2000, Mary Frances was honored as a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and was recognized as a regional winner of the Chemical Manufacturer's Association National Catalyst Award.

At Spruce Creek High School, she received the school's Distinguished Faculty Award, an especially meaningful recognition of the lasting contribution she made to the school, her colleagues, and generations of students.

Even after her teaching career, Mary Frances continued to give back to her community. She served as a board member for Heart of Volusia, supporting young people and helping encourage the next generation of scientists and scholars. She was member of Delta Delta Delta Volusia alumni chapter, General Electric Wives Club, Alpha Delta Kappa retired teachers’ organization and many other groups, clubs and volunteer opportunities.

There are too many accolades to list them all, but awards were never what defined Mary Frances. What mattered most to her was the difference she could make in the lives of her students. She believed in the power of education and in the ability of young people to accomplish great things when someone believed in them. For countless students, Mary Frances was that person.

Yet for all of her professional accomplishments, Mary Frances's greatest source of pride was her family.

She is survived by her beloved husband Robert Aumiller, her daughters and their spouses; Amy and Bruce Soileau and Amber and James Scott, her granddaughters; Belle Soileau, Carly Motosicky, and Alex Kleber, her great-granddaughters; Josephine and Theodora Kleber and her sister Virginia Woodhall and her family.

To her family, she was not simply an accomplished chemist, author, and award-winning teacher. She was Grandmary, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love was at the center of their lives. She leaves behind memories of family gatherings, conversations, laughter, lessons learned, and the countless ways she showed the people she loved how much they meant to her.

Her legacy can be found in the many students who discovered a love of science in her classroom, in the educators who benefited from her experience and wisdom, and most importantly, in the family she leaves behind.

Celebrating Mary Frances's Life

In keeping with Mary Frances's wishes and the family's desire for an intimate farewell, her family will celebrate her life quietly at home, surrounded by those closest to her.

Mary’s daughter Amy and her husband, Bruce Soileau, will host a Holiday Open House on Saturday November 28, for the many former students, colleagues, friends, and members of the community whose lives Mary Frances touched throughout her remarkable life. It will be an opportunity for all who knew and loved Mary Frances to come together, share stories, remember her, and celebrate the extraordinary life she lived. Specific details will be shared at a later time.

In Lieu of Flowers

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Mary Frances's memory to donate school supplies through her Amazon Wish List. The donated supplies will go directly to Volusia County School classrooms, continuing Mary Frances's lifelong commitment to education and to the students she cared so deeply about.

Mary Frances's Amazon Wish List:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/ZNNB9NTTYRJR?ref_=wl_share

This is a particularly meaningful way to honor Mary Frances and extend her legacy of supporting teachers, students, and education in the community she served for so many years.