Mary Kathryn Rowland's Obituary
Mary Kathryn Ford Rowland, 91, went to be with our Lord on August 12, 2013 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, MS.Kay was born February 6, 1922. She was the oldest of three children born to James Henry Ford, Sr. and Katie Sue Jamieson Ford in Cottonplant, MS. She grew up in Brownfield, MS and graduated from Chalybeate High School.She was married to Guy Manning Rowland of Walnut, MS in 1948. She graduated from Memphis State and taught at Richland Elementary School in Memphis. She enjoyed teaching second grade and later serving as the librarian there for 35 years.After Guy retired from Sears and she from teaching, they traveled extensively across the United States and overseas, sometimes with their granddaughters, Mandy and Rachel. Kay and Guy enjoyed attending Ole Miss games, collecting antiques and books.They both worked as volunteers for the Friends of the Orpheum, Friends of the Library and the West Tennessee Historical Society, while serving as board members for the Davies Plantation. They attended Colonial Park United Methodist Church for almost 60 years, holding various leaderships and committee positions.Kay and Guy were happily married for 62 years. You never saw one without the other. They are now reunited in heaven. Kay and Guy were kind and respectful to everyone they met and in return everyone who knew them loved them.Kay is survived by her son, Dr. Guy Ford Rowland; daughter-in-law, Linda; two granddaughters and six great-grandchildren: Mandy and Eric Quiram and daughters Lorelei and Hazel; Rachel and Kap Primos and children Sophia, Peter, Rowland and Esther; her brother James Henry Ford, Jr. of Tuscaloosa, AL and many nieces and nephews.She is predeceased by her parents and her brother, Joe Pinkney Ford of Pensacola, FL.Visitation will be held Friday, August 16, 2013 at 10:00 at Colonial Park United Methodist Church, Memphis, TN with funeral service following at 11:00. Interment services will be at 1:00 at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.The family requests that memorials may be made to Colonial Park United Methodist Church 5330 Park Avenue Memphis, TN 38119-3605.Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family, please visit our Sympathy Store.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?